In this episode of INTERFACES, structural engineer, author, and painter Mentor Llunji joins us for a rich and layered conversation on the theme of “Structure” in cultural heritage conservation.

Mentor Llunji is a generous communicator and critical thinker whose work bridges engineering, architecture, and cultural understanding.

His publications include Seismic Architecture: The Architecture of Earthquake Resistant Structures and Towards a New Engineering: Reflections of a Practitioner, both of which offer insightful perspectives on the expressive and philosophical dimensions of structural design.

Our dialogue traces a long-standing intellectual exchange—beginning with the study of mechanical deterioration in mural paintings and evolving into the expressive potential of seismic architecture.

Mentor reflects on how structural thinking shapes not only buildings, but also the way we perceive, interpret, and preserve their authenticity.

Together, we explore:

- Structure as a form of perception, not just technical necessity

- The philosophical foundations of structural design

- Structural behavior as part of a building’s authentic identity

- The interplay between traditional techniques and modern engineering

- Sustainability through interdisciplinary collaboration

- The relationship between engineering and painting as creative practices

To explore more of Mentor’s work, visit his professional website

https://www.msproject.me/

and his blog, where he shares reflections “about structural engineering, its present, future, and its relation to architecture and art...”

https://mentorllunji.com/

CONTACTS

To reach out, here is my contact: info@simonasajeva.com

Produced by a talented team:

Media: Salvatore Melluso

Contact: mellusodreamer@gmail.com

Graphic Design: Emanuela Nosari

Contact: enosari.servizieditoriali@gmail.com

Language: Tanya Yakovenko

Contact: tanya.language.trainer@gmail.com

If you enjoyed our conversation and want to delve deeper, check out my books:

"Conservazione delle Decorazioni architettoniche: Il ruolo delle strutture di supporto"

https://www.nardinieditore.it/prodotto/conservazione-decorazioni-architettoniche/

"Pitture Murali, i Degradi di Origine Meccanica. Metodologia per Restauratori e Ingegneri"

https://www.nardinieditore.it/lavoro/pitture-murali-degradi-di-origine-meccanica

MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS CREDITS

Cinematic Time Lapse by Lexin

Licensor's Username:

https://pixabay.com/users/lexin_music-28841948/

Autumn Reason by Amaksi

Licensor's Username:

https://pixabay.com/users/amaksi-28332361/

Note: my voice audio is a bit rough in this episode. Thanks for understanding — we’re working on it!