"MADE IN TURIN" ARCHITECTURAL EXPERIMENTATION, THE CITY SEEN THROUGH THE LENS OF ATELIER BOW-WOW

This thesis investigates the adaptation of the methodology introduced in Made in Tokyo by Atelier Bow-Wow to the Italian context of Turin. Developed from a study conducted in the Japanese urban context of Tokyo, the book outlines a methodology that emphasizes the exploration of overlooked, hybrid, and adaptive aspects of the city through close observation and documentation. The research explores how this approach can uncover Turin's unique urban and architectural identity. The research phase, titled Made in Turin, employs walking explorations, case studies, and keyword analysis to document the city's complexities. Keywords such as Metamorphosis in Time, Static and Dynamic, Thresholds, and Hazy Borders emerged during the study, reflecting distinctive patterns and characteristics of Turin's urban fabric. Twenty case studies were selected and documented using various elements, including architectural drawings, sketches, photographs, and diagrams. These cases focus on the clarity of the patterns they represent, the keywords to which they may belong, and the insights they provide into the city's architectural identity. In the second phase, the thesis transitions into an architectural project that builds on these findings. The selected site, the Palazzo del Lavoro—referred to as The Forgotten Giant in the study—serves as a framework for applying the identified keywords. Its monumental scale, adaptive potential, and current state of abandonment make it an ideal case for testing the ideas developed during the research phase. Rather than aiming to provide definitive solutions, this work focuses on documenting and experimenting with an alternative approach to studying and designing urban spaces. By applying a methodology grounded in observation and analysis, the thesis seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on urban environment transformation and adaptive reuse.