Tell us briefly about your origins: who are you and what did you study?

I was born in Milan and I perceive the world in two different ways: the Romantic and Enlightenment-related one of my father and the Classic one of my mother.

I graduated in Architecture from Politecnico di Milano, I am a strong supporter of this University and at present I am working there as Master Professor.

From the idea to the project: tell us about your project, how did it start, what does it start from and how does it interact with the area?

My projects start from the analysis of the area and from a comprehensive preparatory work on the area’s cultural matrix. Indeed, a specific piece of architecture is to be created, renovated or designed to carry out a new function in that specific area. For these reasons, I try to develop projects in relation with the surrounding area, especially if it is a urban one, to connect the new building to the surroundings.

Which values connect you with 5VIE? Why did you choose this district?

I share 5VIE’s idea of a city as area of cultural interaction, where there is a fluid, interchange process of history, monumental buildings, cultural activities and citizens. The 5VIE’s area is very important for me because, for different reasons, I have been living there and frequenting it for years, by discovering every time new reasons to consider it a key element of the cultural growth of my city. This year, in occasion of Fuorisalone and in coordination with Action Group, I planned the exhibition MY LIGHT YEARS at Palazzo delle Stelline. This exhibition is a retrospective of projects and products about Light, developed by my Studio, and it will be supported with the publication of a Book dedicated to this interesting topic.

What does design mean to you?

To me, design means research and experimentation, and product at a later time only. I am more interested in taking innovative paths based on two main guidelines: technique and aesthetics. I am attracted by the idea of creating standard and one-off products that can perform their main function but that can also express communicative and synaesthetic values.

Nowadays, what does “to be connected” mean?

Nowadays, communication is more and more a strategic element of my works. I believe it is now necessary for a designer to communicate and share information and research. For this reason, I think that “to be connected” with the operational social and cultural context is indispensable. Personally, I cultivate relations both in Italy and abroad with the media, with colleagues, universities and institutes for research. Connections can also be maintained through – but not only -  internet and social networks.

Where do you live? How is your house?

I mainly live in Milan, but also in Xintiandi (Shanghai), in Chembur (Mumbai), in Business Bay (Dubai), in Beverly Hills (California) and in many other places where I often go to follow my projects.

My house was not designed by me, but by my wife Sarah, and even if I feel comfortable there it does not represent my idea of “home”. Anyways, it is comfortable, well structured, orderly and colored, in a sort of Baroque-Metropolitan style, far from my fluid, uninterrupted, tridimensional, ideal space. Nevertheless, we both like having a big library, a certain amount of paintings, objects collected during the several travels in far exotic countries, hundreds of Buddha statues and a collection of sand coming from different deserts or from different sea, river and lake shores of the world.

Which are the design items in your house that you would never do without?

Bialetti Moka, Algol TV, Brionvega Radio Cubo TS 502.

Which is the first design item you have bought?

The Olivetti Lettera 25 typewriter by Mario Bellini.

How is your typical day?

In Milan: I wake up at 7am and I drink coffee. My daughter Beatrice goes to school (1^st year at scientific high school) at 7:45 and Sarah and me go out at 8 am. We arrive at the Studio at 8:20 and we have breakfast. We start working at 8:30 and we write emails until 9:30. The other people arrive and we have meetings until 1 pm. Lunch break from 1 to 2 pm, I read the newspaper. From 2 to 6:30 pm: meetings or creative activities.

From 6:30 to 7:30: emails. At 8 pm (hopefully): dinner at home. From 9 pm on I sometimes watch a movie or a TV program with my two ladies or, more often, I plan, draw, design and answer to interviews like this. At midnight I finally go to sleep with my e-book (genders: history, astronomy, science fiction, detective stories) until Morpheus comes.

When I travel, the sequence is repeated until 7 pm, arrival time at the Studio of the Emirates limousine for Malpensa, and then Dubai, or via Dubai to Mumbai, Shanghai or Beijing.

Which design item would you have liked to create?

The wheel.

Which song would you have liked to write?

Emozioni by Mogol/Battisti

Which are your sources of inspiration?

History, geography and art.

What is your best talent?

Imagination.

And your worse flaw?

Intolerance “towards human stupidity”.

How do you define your style?

My style is expressive freedom without pre-set, superstructural bonds.

Why surface treatment and treated surfaces’ power of suggestion  are so important in your work?

I am an artist who loves working with materials, colors, with the manual skills that are necessary to transform and mould shapes. If I could, I would create myself the materials for a piece of architecture or a product.

I am attracted by tradition and innovation at the same time, by technology and machineries, but also by the way artisans use their hands to transfer ancient knowledge on stone, marble, wood, metal, glass and ceramic.

In your opinion, what is the relation among drawing, handicraft and industrial production?

The challenge is to create a fluid relation of continuity between concept and finished product, no matter if it is a piece of architecture, of Interior or a design product. To achieve this goal I need to know and examine the productive processes that are inspired by handicraft and that then result into advanced technological processes. In my opinion, the relation among creativity, technique, productive process and socio-cultural setting lies at the basis of Italian design and it is crucial.

In your works, what is the relationship between the poetic component and the influence of technology?

My design process follows parallel paths: the poetic, emotional, humanistic and Enlightenment’s technological ones, constantly looking for balance and harmony.