Using Italian know-how to China to build sustainable cities. Paolo Vincenzo Genovese, full professor at the School of Architecture of Tianjin University, has won several honors for his studies of eco-systems for urban construction. As Beijing starts to direct part of its growth in the direction of green business, Genovese tells Aspen that Italy has to start doing the same, by encouraging cooperation with the Chinese to attract investments and provide them with that “excellence in details” that Italy produces.
An Italian architect teaching the Chinese how to build sustainable housing. Is green business only growing in China, or are there prospects in Italy too?
Sustainability is a basic theme today, and I think that Italy has what it takes to go in this direction. The Italian regions in the south could become producers of clean energy on the models of other areas in the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East that are moving from oil to solar energy. Of course, investments are needed and there is no denying that funding is difficult to find in large capitals, not only Italy but all through Europe. So we need to look to Asia. I believe that the ties between Italy and China, including investment possibilities, must be based on cooperation. In other words, not Chinese acquisition of Italian companies, which would result in a sort of colonization. We also need close connections that allow Italy to make its know-how available as well, sharing in the wealth that comes from Beijing.
What are some spheres of excellence that the Italy system can offer Asian investors?
The high quality that our country can produce is an important asset in this field. We still have an artisanal system, based on ingenuity and hand-made articles that ensure excellence. At times, this also limits the ability to produce in large number, and I think that – when faced with global competition, Italy has to systematize its ability to produce excellent at the artisan level. In order to attract Chinese investments, Italy’s ability to be creative and different is fundamental. The Chinese learned a great deal form the United States from the point of view of management, logic and how to move in the markets. But they also learned the Americans’ weak points. But they are also struck by the fact that the Italians are somewhat unpredictable, and therefore cannot be copied.
What part of your Italian background has been most useful during your experience in China?
As I mentioned earlier, I think it lies in the ability to make do, to manage. I’ve been doing this since my university days. The department of architecture where I studied in Milan was truly chaotic, and I don’t mean to be negative. The students were left to themselves, but they could interact with truly excellent professors. And that made them autonomous, taught them how to create their own situations an and accomplish what they wanted. In other words, they learned how to be more creative. I think that this positive aspect of the art of making do by proposing unexpected solutions is very useful. And China is a very unusual country where, whatever people say, there is a great deal of freedom. As long as you don’t get involved in politics, you can do almost everything you like. That means managing, steering a middle course, groping through difficulties, since China is fairly chaotic. The different perhaps is that Italian produces high quality products while China, by its very nature, tends towards simply and economical solutions.
So Italian culture helps us understand China. What can we learn from Chinese culture?
Italians are very flexible. From my experience, I have noted that people and cultures that are very methodical and organized, the Germans for example, risk encountering serious problems in adapting. That seems true for China. Instead, the ability to find solutions to problems is of great help. I think that we can learn a great deal from the Chinese and I think I learned more than I gave. One lesson that serves me well is how not to impose my opinion, or criticize unconstructively. The Chinese use all their energy to solve problems, trying not to waste time by finding a culprit is something fails, trying to listen to everyone’s opinions. Even the smallest idea might be useful and should be considered. All this leads to finding practical solution that might not be perfect but can be simply applied. Perhaps we Italians should stop worrying so much about the big picture and be more concrete. Finding immediate solutions for short terms goals is not always deleterious.
