1. OPLA+ [OPerative LAboratory + EnvironmentalDesign]
isan independentresearchgroupthatexploresthe complexinter-relationshipsthatcreate andregulate
the contemporarylandscapesinwhichwe live.OPLA+considers“Environmental Design”or“context-
sensitivedesign”the processof addressingsurroundingcomplexenvironmentalparametersbecause
identifiedasthe ultimate synthesisof all the interdisciplinaryareasandsciencesdealingwithcreating
sustainable human-designedenvironments,fieldsthat,therefore,cannotonlyincludeurbanplanning,
landscape,architecture,andinteriordesign,butthe widersocial,economic,political,artisticandeco-
logical contexts.Inthissense OPLA+,foundedbyGiorgioChiarelloandMarcoPasianin2000, consciously
workswithinaframeworkof philosophyandpractice thatinvestigatesandinterpretshow tactical urbanism
and meta-designstrategiescanaffectthe complex interactionprocessesthatdetermine human
comprehension/ perceptionof space andplace inevolvingglobalizedcontexts.
OPLA+’sprojects-installationsare notdesignedtoprovide solutionsorready-madeanswersbutrathertend
to introduce adebate inareas oftenconsideredmarginal,suggestingalternative viewpointsandmultiple
levelsof reflectiontoa populationof "users",alwayscalledtointer-act.
OPLA+ isbasedinItalyand has participatedinmanynational andinternational workshops,eventsbutalso
interdisciplinaryresearchprojectsregardingcontext-sensitive designandcultural landscapesinmajor
urban design,infrastructure andtransportationprojects.Manyprojectsandinstallationshave been
presented/exhibitedinnumerousartfestivalsandforumsinEurope andabroad.