In the first half of March, two inspiring presentations took place in Prague, the result of a wonderful collaboration between the Italian-Japanese architectural firm Alvisi Kirimoto and the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague. ARCHIP students were there. The presentations took place on March 9 at ARCHIP and on March 10, 2026, in the Baroque chapel of the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague’s Lesser Town. This important cultural center has long supported international cultural and academic exchange between Italy and the Czech Republic.

Harmony, the Beauty of Imperfection, the Philosophy of Space

During both lectures, the studio’s founders, Massimo Alvisi and Junko Kirimoto, presented their practice and completed projects. The content focused on the harmony between the function and form of buildings, the philosophy of the beauty of imperfection inspired by a Japanese concept, and the effort not to create a distinctive, easily recognizable studio style—a clear rejection of the typical approach to brand building.

ARCHIP students had a unique opportunity to expand their knowledge of methods and concepts applied in international practice under the guidance of Helena Čapková, an educator, architectural historian, and director of science and research at ARCHIP, and Ryan Manton, an architect and educator specializing in urbanism and research. Helena Čapková has long been dedicated to the history of modern architecture, Japanese architecture, and international discourses in design, and she actively supported student participation.

Benefits for Students and Academic Collaboration

Both presentations significantly enriched the students’ academic experience while strengthening collaboration between ARCHIP, the Italian Cultural Institute in Prague, and the international architectural profession.