MARIO BOTTA WORKS

1. MARIO BOTTA

2. Introduction
• 1958
Drawing firm training in Carmen Ulrich
1969
He graduated from the Department of Architecture, University of
Venice
1970
Opening with a partner in Lugano
1971
Design of the famous Saint Vital River residential, fame
1976
State University of Technology in Lausanne, was appointed Visiting
Professor
Mario Botta was born on April 1, 1943 in Mendrisio,
Ticino (Switzerland) .

3. • 1969 - Begins his independent career, opening a studio in Lugano.
• 1982/87 - Member of the Swiss Federal Commission of the Fine Arts.
• 1985 - Wins the "Beton Architecture Prize", Zurich (Switzerland).
• 1986 - Awarded the "Chicago Architecture Award"
• 1988 - Wins the "Grade de Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des
Lettres(Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters )" prize, Paris (France).
• 1993 -Wins the "Marble Architectural Award" in Carrara (Italy)

4. EARLY LIFE
•BORN IN MENDRISIO, TICINO, ON APRIL 1, 1943. AFTER AN APPRENTICESHIP IN
LUGANO, HE FIRST ATTENDS THE ART COLLEGE IN MILAN AND THEN STUDIES AT
THE UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE IN VENICE.
•PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GENESTRERIO AND MENDRISIO
• HE RECEIVES HIS PROFESSIONAL DEGREE IN 1969. WHILE STUDYING IN VENICE,
HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND WORK FOR LE CORBUSIER AND LOUIS
I. KAHN.
•BOTTA’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER BEGINS IN 1970 IN LUGANO. KNOWN FOR HIS
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES IN TICINO, HIS WORK ENCOMPASSES MANY OTHER
BUILDING TYPES INCLUDING SCHOOLS, BANKS, ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS,
LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS AND SACRED BUILDINGS.
•ALONG HIS WORK HE TEACHES EXTENSIVELY IN GIVING LECTURES, SEMINARS
AND COURSES IN ARCHITECTURAL SCHOOLS IN EUROPE, ASIA, NORTH- AND
SOUTH AMERICA.

5. •SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER, HIS WORK HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED
INTERNATIONALLY AND HONORED WITH PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS, BESIDES BEING
PRESENTED IN NUMEROUS EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICATIONS.
•IN 1996, HE IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE OF
THE UNIVERSITÀ DELLA SVIZZERA ITALIANA IN MENDRISIO, WHERE HE STILL
TEACHES AND HELD THE DIRECTORSHIP.
•IN 2011, THE PRACTICE MARIO BOTTA ARCHITETTI MOVED TO MENDRISIO,
WHERE IT CONTINUES TO BE INVOLVED IN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
PROJECTS AND IN IMPORTANT COMPETITIONS.
•IN 2011 HE BECAME DEAN OF THE ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE IN MENDRISIO
FOR THE ACADEMIC YEARS 2011/13

6. Philosophy
He show respect for topographical conditions and regional sensibilities and his
designs generally emphasize craftsmanship and geometric order. Because he
attempts to reconcile traditional architectural symbolism with the aesthetic
rules of the Modern Movement
His design elements are:
Modernism
Symbolism
Regionalism
Culture
Light
Vernacular material
Diagonal axis
Spaces of poetry
Geometry
Revive an old Transformation
Topography
Social environment
He believes that architecture acts as a mirror of its time

7. PHILOSOPHY
Importance of the site
•EVERY WORK OF ARCHITECTURE ENTAILS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SITE. IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED
OBJECT; ON THE CONTRARY IT IS AN ENTITY THAT TAKES ROOT IN A DISTINCTIVE PLACE. FOR THIS
REASON THE TERRITORY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PROJECT, AND NEVER AN INCIDENTAL ELEMENT.
FROM THIS POINT OF VIEW, IT CAN BE SAID THAT ARCHITECTURE IS THE DISCIPLINE THAT, INSTEAD OF
BUILDING ON A SITE, BUILDS THAT SITE.
Light
•LIGHT GENERATES SPACE. IT GIVES EMPHASIS AND RHYTHM, IT MARKS THE SPACES AND BESTOWS
BALANCE TO THE STRUCTURE: NEITHER SPACE NOR ARCHITECTURE COULD BE PERCEIVED WITHOUT
LIGHT. LIGHT COMPLETES THE ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT, SO IT IS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE FROM
THE VERY FIRST PLANNING STAGES THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES THAT WILL MAKE IT THE
FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENT FOR THE UNDERSTANDING AND THE USE OF THE CONSTRUCTED WORK.

8. GRAVITY
•GRAVITY IS THE FORCE THAT BINDS THE WORK OF ARCHITECTURE TO THE
GROUND, IT IS THE REASON FOR EXISTENCE OF THE BUILDING PRINCIPLE IN THE
SEARCH FOR A BALANCE TO TRANSMIT THE LOADS TO THE GROUND.
Geometry, symmetry, order
•Preference for the simple and primary forms combined to achieve symmetrical
order. Geometry allows to control the balance of the spaces thus making them
recognizable and understandable.
Natural materials
•Natural materials are characterized by strength and durability. They also have a
great ductility, i.e. the capacity to modify in time and space their aspect, their
structure and, as a consequence, their appearance

9. Works
Switzerland
• Single-family dwellings in Canton Ticino, Switzerland ( 1965)
Junior High School in Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland
Library of the Capuchin Monastery in Lugano
UBS Bank, Basel
National sports centre, Tenero
Japan
Watari-um Art Gallery, Tokyo
United States
Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco,
Israel
Cymbalista synagogue and Jewish cultural centre, Tel Aviv
Italy
New casino at Capione d’Italia

10. S.F.MOMA
New casino ,
Capione d’Italia
Kyobo Tower
Wellness centre
S.F.Moma
New casino , Capione
d’Italia
Petra Winery ,Suvereto , Italy
Church of Santo Volto
Turin , Italy
Church of Santo Volto
Turin , Italy
Church of Santo Volto
Turin , Italy
Leeum – Samsung MOA
Seoul , South Korea
Offices &Housing
“La Fortezza”
Maastricht ,
N etherlands

11. Wellness centre – Berg Oase
Arosa , Switzerland
2003-2006
Project 2003
Commissioned by Grand Hotel
Tschuggen
Area 5,300 m²
Volume 27,000 m³
The concept of the value of feeling good and taking care
of yourself and of others has remained unchanged since
the days of ancient philosophy. Today it is backed up by
new technologies that offer us a range of different
services: from the sauna to different types of massaging
tubs. The aim of all this is to create a setting of great
emotional content focusing on the common theme of
water. .