Davide Macullo Architects is an international design studio founded in 2000 and based in Lugano in southern Switzerland and in Vimercate, Milan, Italy.
The studio was founded in 2000 and since then has grown steadily. Current projects include a new commercial headquarters project in northern Switzerland, a residential complex on Lake Lugano, several houses in the Alps surrounding Lugano, two beachfront properties on the island of Crete in Greece, hotels in Nafplion and Lagonissi, Greece, a house and museum on Jeju island, South Korea and a dozen residential, commercial and masterplan projects in Milan. On site projects in China include a sales pavilion in Zhoushan and an exhibition centre in Tianjin. They have also recently begun a partnership in India.
The ethos of the studio has developed into one of ‘cross-experiences’ and promotes an open and cultural exchange with architects and collaborators coming from different backgrounds.
The diverse contributions promote a dialogue between the specificity of the project and the universality of the contexts through the theory and practice of specific design strategies, investigating and analysing different spatial scales, architectonics and technology.
This encourages and helps sustain a local-meets-global, embracing approach to architecture, spanning from the theoretical to the practical and detail level, to territorial analysis, pedagogy and sustainability in construction.
The work of the studio has received awards, been published and exhibited widely both at home and abroad; in Switzerland, Italy, France, Greece, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Turkey, Russia, China, Korea, Australia, Argentina, Ireland, UK and in the US and has just published
SWISSMADEINITALY, which focuses on eight of its residential projects in Ticino. The work of the studio has also recently been featured on Case e Segreti and Case da Sogno for Sky Television Italia. Davide has also lectured on the work of the studio at the Architektursalon in Munich, CAFA Beijing, Seoul National University, IUAV Venice, Florence Kent University, the International
Convention of Architecture in Budapest and at the China Building Decoration Association.
They have been shortlisted for the Exposynergy A Prize, finalists for the Spark Space Awards, nominated in two categories at the World Architecture Awards in Barcelona; shortlisted for the WAN House of the Year Award; shortlisted for an Innovation and Excellence Award by Hise, Slovenia; shortlisted for the European Hotel Design Awards and the Copper in Architecture Awards in London. They have been awarded the Tecu Award for residential buildings, the international architecture DITEC award, the Luigi Cosenza European Architecture Award, named as one of the ‘world’s most exciting new architects’ by Wallpaper magazine, shortlisted for the Prix d'Architecture de Languedoc-Roussillon and winner at World Architecture Community 20+10+X Awards. They have exhibited at the Centro de Arte y Comunicación CAYC in La Plata, Argentina, selected as "Architect of the Month" by Archiworld, South Korea and in China the practice has recently been awarded the Building Industry Environmental Design Medal and the
Shenzhen Top Ideas Award for residential design. They have also exhibited at the Hungarian Pavilion at the 2010 Venice Biennale.
Prior to founding his own studio, Davide was with Mario Botta Architects for 20 years as international project architect, with responsibility for over 200 projects worldwide.
PROJECT TEAM:
Davide Macullo, Ivo Redaelli (Italy). Partners: Han Man Won (South Korea), Makis Lahanas (Greece).
Current staff Lugano: Aileen Forbes-Munnelly, Kim Ah Lom, Lorenza Tallarini, Michele Alberio, Viviana Salvade.
JANSEN CAMPUS
Project:Jansen Campus
Location:Oberriet, SG, Switzerland
Function:Office building
Client:Jansen AG
Project start date:July 2008
Construction start date:May 2010
Completion date:May 2012
Certification:Minergie Label
Site area:3,705 m2
Building area:1,100 m2
Total floor area:3,300 m2
Basement floor area: 900 m2
Above ground floor area:2,400 m2
Volume: 15,800 m3
Photographer:Pino Musi
The project is the landmark HQ of the new ‘Jansen Campus’ and is the result of two years of extraordinary collaboration between the architects and the clients.
The building , a striking new addition to the skyline, is the link between the industrial area and the old town and takes its triangular forms from the traditional pitched roofs of Oberriet. The project integrates innovative technologies and includes new details and materials not yet used in architecture- the façade system for example, structural glazing details (by Jansen AG) and internal glazed fireproof doors. The building’s heating, ventilation, lighting and energy consumption meets strict Swiss ‘Minergie’ standards, meaning that it has excellent sustainable credentials- the HV system, for example, is ‘TAPS’, activated by the structural shell of the building.
One of Jansen’s main objectives for the project is to make the Campus a creative and engaging place for all their employees. The building’s work spaces are open plan, with each employee have their own custom designed workstation. (Many furniture pieces have been custom designed and made for the project and stand alongside the chosen brands of Alias and Capellini).
All spaces look out across the Rheintal and the geometry of the building means that visitors and employees alike are offered unexpected glimpses sliced out of the
landscape.
The landscaped park surrounding the building includes 80 trees, 35 different species representative of those of the region. The project also sees the beginning of the Jansen
Art collection, containing works by international contemporary artists.
