A glimpse of Italian architecture is on display from May 18 to June 3 in the heart of Beijing's 798 art zone, as the first Archea Sustainable Landmark Exhibition breaks ground at the T Art Center. Architecture and art aficionados will have the chance to view the creations of Archea Studio, an Italian consultancy company that specializes in sustainable architecture.

Dozens of architectural works including low-carbon designs will be on display - not only in model form, but with interactive slideshows to complement the presentation and reveal details about their construction processes. "We're not just displaying models, we really felt we needed something interactive so audiences could see, feel, touch and hear about our creations," Enrico Ancilli, Archea's chief architect told the Global Times on May 18. "The models here are miniaturized designs that are either under construction or have already been completed."

Most of the items on display are representations of Archea Studio's works over the last two decades.

Nurturing sustainability

The pursuit of artistic perfection is a never-ending struggle. In terms of architecture, this pursuit is now intertwined with the pursuit of low-carbon designs. "An ideal design is not only beautiful but also has a low-carbon output. It's something that has been adapted and is part of the environment as a whole," Ancilli said. "In other words, a landmark shouldn't intrude upon the natural landscape in terms of appearance, style or even materials."

One model in the exhibit holds particular relevance for Chinese audiences. The model is of the Green Energy Laboratory (GEL) of Shanghai's Jiao Tong University. The real laboratory was designed in 2010 and has now finished being built. It opened on May 20.

The laboratory is a fine example of how clever designs can bring sustainable concepts to life. Special features include double walls divided into a waterproof inner section and an exterior grid for optimizing the amount of sunlight entering the building.

No boundaries

Despite the fact that the exhibition revolves around complex architectural designs, the exhibits are presented in a way that is easy for audiences to appreciate. One visitor for instance, 30-year-old Zhang Liangliang, has little experience of architecture beyond what she sees on the streets, but was very impressed the moment she stepped inside the exhibition. "At the first glance, these designs look like science fiction creations, due to their strange appearances. They capture the imagination," she said. "Although I haven't seen the life-size version of these designs I've been able to get a pretty good idea." Zhang did say however that there should have been more detailed information in the words presented beside each model so that they could be more easily understood not just in terms of appearance but also functions.

Fang Zhenning, the curator of the exhibition said that the goal of the exhibition is to give Chinese audiences the chance to glimpse Archea's works and understand how in just a decade the company has managed become an attractive choice for Chinese city planners. "When you make a thorough inspection of Archea's works, you're able to understand how well Chinese and Italian aesthetics can combine and interact," he said.

Beijing is the second stop on the exhibition's tour schedule, having just come from Brazil. After finishing their exhibition in Beijing, Archea may move on to Shenzhen in Guangdong province depending on the audience response.

Where: T Art Center in 798 art zone, No.2 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district

When: 9 am-6:30 pm

Contact: 8456-1529

Tickets: Free