Sweep Island_Project Pelagos
Angelo Renna
Angelo Renna is an architect and landscape designer with a keen interest in multi-species narratives, one he developed during his studies in Florence and Porto and was further honed through collaborations with different offices, such as Stefano Boeri in Milan, Topotek1 in Berlin, and Bureau B+B in Amsterdam. He Has been selected as one of the promising from around the world by Wallpaper Magazine. He published the book "Monkey Factor - Small stories for reconciliation with nature" and he is currently teaching 'interior landscape' at Florence Institute of Design International (Fidi). Angelo is founder and member of Renna Studio, a small research and design practise based in prato, Italy.
The Pelago Sanctuary, situated between Italy and France in the northwestern Mediterranean, serves as a marine protected area established in 1999 due to its exceptional biodiversity. Hosting 12 aquatic mammal species and over 8,500 macroscopic organisms, it embodies a significant portion of global marine species. However, recent studies by WWF have highlighted the alarming plastic pollution in the Mediterranean, describing it as a 'dangerous plastic trap.' With concentrations comparable to ocean garbage patches, the sea poses a severe threat to marine life, including within the Pelago Sanctuary. In response to this concerning environmental issue, Renna Studio proposes a research-driven solution – an artificial island incorporating design, advanced 3D printing, and insights from marine biology. The prototype, featuring an island with diverse habitats and an underwater collector, aims to investigate the dynamics of plastic accumulation, emphasizing a research-oriented approach to better understand and address the complex challenges facing the Pelago Sanctuary and the broader Mediterranean ecosystem.
Our primary objective is to collect essential data on the distribution and repercussions of plastic and litter, analyzing their intricate interactions within marine ecosystems. As a design studio committed to blending human activities with nature, we are passionately dedicated to exploring the integration of multispecies narratives within design. The loss of biodiversity and plastic pollution rank among today's most pressing environmental challenges. Their combined impact profoundly affects animals and ecosystems worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for concerted action to mitigate their effects and safeguard the well-being of all living creatures. Hence, the idea of creating an artificial floating ecosystem to enhance this model of coexistence.