Mario Botta

Mario Botta (1943-) is one of the most important personalities of contemporary Swiss architecture. Born in Mendrisio, he completed his architectural studies at the IUAV in Venice under the guidance of Carlo Scarpa and developed the first projects in Canton Ticino starting from the 1970s, dedicating himself above all to private homes and developing the theme of the "home-refuge ”, Through which he perfects the key themes of his unmistakable style: the external wall covering in red brick or stone, the study of pure volumes crossed by large cracks, the careful modeling of the light effects on the surfaces. Sacred architectures, such as the cathedral of Evry near Paris or the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli on Monte Tamaro, have a particular importance in his work, creations intrinsically pervaded by ascetic spirituality. Among the important orders of public importance are the renovation and expansion of the Scala in Milan, the Casino di Campione di Italia and the Mart Museum in Rovereto. His forays into the world of design are rare and precious, all crowned with great success, through special collaborations with brands such as Alias, Artemide, Riva 1920, Casamania and Alessi.