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Anyone who has glanced at the landscape of Pittsburgh from one of the city’s many vantage points has probably taken note of a variant feature typical of this region: the buildings. They’re mottled, to say the least. Some of the architecture screams for our attention; a-typical designs, bright colors... while other neighborhoods seem to flow seamlessly between structures wit h a delicate harmony. The focus for this piece is the latter, architecture that blends in-step with surrounding structures to connote a sense of fluidity.
To many architects, a traditional approach to design is a timeless thread that stitches throughout a community, tying buildings together through basic, raw materials like wood, steel, and iron. Buildings and renovation projects conceived with respect to local traditions can give an ageless feel to a property. Such is the mission statement of local architect Carmine Carapella AIA. “If you drive through Squirrel Hill, those homes will look good no matter what year it is, they aren’t built in a modern style or as part of a fad in architecture,” Carapella told me in his Strip District office, emphasizing his passion for high-end traditional design. “These homes are timeless and they fit where they’re supposed to. It’s pretty simple... the old stuff looks beautiful and often times the new construction utilizing glass, metal, and synthetic materials, it often looks bad and out of place.”
As Carapella moves about his office, shuffling schematic renderings and oil paintings of buildings, he speaks to me about the experience he brings to Pittsburgh. Carapella has classical architecture in his DNA. He hails from Italy, a country steeped in architectural notoriety, the archetype of building for the Western World. “Many architects who have spent a semester or two overseas make attempts at traditional
architecture that can feel fake. They don’t catch the spirit of classical architecture. Studying for years in Rome and Germany was an enormous advantage for me.”
After studying throughout Europe, he moved to America to study at the University of Notre Dame. He attained his degree and headed to the Southern United States to design extravagant homes, often valued at more than 15 million dollars. Eventually, he landed in Pittsburgh. He brought his flare to the Three Rivers designing commercial and residential projects throughout the region including the Orr’s Jewelers building in Sewickley, for which he received an award from the International Masonry Institute for Best Commercial Design.
He likes Pittsburgh, it reminds him of Europe. “If you look at the layouts of many of these neighborhoods... the church will be the largest structure in town, the neighborhoods are very easy to walk around and
built with commerce in mind, very European.” Carapella also agrees that the city is experiencing a special resurgence that promises to make a welcoming home for businesses in the international community. “The city is evolving. In the next 20 years, it will be a major city, bigger than we imagine now. This could be a major hub for many businesses; I agree 100% with these lists calling us the, “most livable city.” This puts a lot of importance on the way the city handles new construction projects. The city’s building project managers understand what they’re doing, making the city more functional and attractive to a worldwide audience.
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