Catania: La Città Nera

Anna Mańka
she/her
nl-pl

visiting address:
Hoofdweg 403, 1056 CS Amsterdam

Originally from Poland and currently based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, she is an independent spatial practitioner and researcher examining politics, labour, and production across different scales of the built environment. She holds a dual master’s degree in Architecture and Urbanism from Eindhoven University of Technology.

In her practice, she questions the contemporary labour dynamics and the pursuit of limitless growth within the built environment. Her work explores the intersections of migration, labour, and architecture, with a particular focus on the experiences of Eastern European workers in Western Europe.

Currently, she also works within the field of IT in the built environment, engaging with digital tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and data environments that mediate design and construction processes. She is actively involved in advocating for labour rights within the architectural profession, both in the Netherlands and internationally.

Research

The Sanatorium >
Architectural Labour >
Migrant Production of Spaces >
Bloeiende Broedplaatsen 2/2 >
Bloeiende Broedplaatsen 1/2 >
Catania: La Città Nera >

Projects
House of All >
Porta Seguro - Sleeping pods >
Over:flow >

CV >

Other things >

Email >>
Instagram >>

CATANIA : LA CITTÀ NERA
Group design project research with:
Marije De Boer , Kevin Pulles, Niels Genee
Scale: Architecture and Urbanism
Location: Catania, Italy
2022

Located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, at the base of the Mount Etna, Catania has long been subject to the island’s powerful natural forces, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Over the centuries, these challenges have led to significant spatial transformations and adaptations within the city.

This research, forming the foundation for a potential design intervention, focuses on the historical evolution of Catania's waterfront. By examining key sections where land meets water, we highlight the most critical transitions and the persistent difficulties in integrating the city's marine environment with its Baroque- and later- urban structures