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Claudio Silvestrin


Biography

Born in Zurich, Claudio Silvestrin (1954) is one of the best-known Italian architects and designers today, and a "meticulous designer of elegant spaces, particularly stores and manufacturing". (Domus)
Italian, naturalized British, as a student of A.G. Fronzoni (1923-2002) and his design concepts, he studied initially in Milan, and then continued his studies at the Architectural Association, London.
His early professional career began in the British capital firstly with John Pawson (1986-1988). He then opened his own practice, Claudio Silvestrin Architects (CSA) in 1989, followed by offices in Milan (2006).

Expanding internationally, CSA’s body of work encompasses a variety of projects and interior designs for new-build houses and resorts, art galleries, museums, restaurants, hotels and luxury stores, in addition to furniture design.
High-profile clients include Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Giada, Anish Kapoor, Victoria Miro, Fondazione Sandretto Re-Rebaudengo, YTL Singapore, Illy Coffee, Princi, Rainer Becker of Zuma and hip hop artist and producer Kanye West.
His wide-ranging architecture and design projects are noted for their discernment, serenity and ingenuity, in addition to meticulous attention to detail.

His architecture appears "austere but not extreme, contemporary yet timeless, calm yet not spartan, powerful yet not intimidating, elegant but not ostentatious, and understated yet not soulless". In his interior design there is a feeling of meditative serenity, leading him to declare that it is "architecture for contemplation and our inner self - most of all for our soul".
Since 1999, his ongoing and wide-ranging partnership with Giorgio Armani, designing numerous exhibition spaces from Rome to Costa Mesa, Seoul to Atlanta, gained him the Contract World Award and Artib Award (2003), and International Award for Architecture in Stone (2005).

Claudio Silvestrin Architects’ numerous projects include interiors for private buildings and residences. Barton House (1992) is the conversion of a Provence farmhouse, once a resting place for monks and pilgrims.
The building is on two floors, divided into two by a massive loadbearing wall. Predominantly in Beauval stone from Burgundy, the new home is "incredibly serene yet vibrant, devoid of decoration but full of spiritual vitality".
The sophisticated interior design of the 96 Esplanade apartments which overlook the ocean in Melbourne (2005) uses natural materials with a masterful use of natural light.

In the Kanye West Loft in Manhattan (2007) "day and night areas follow one another in a continuous, unrestricted flow of space (...). Two monolithic stone islands are exclusive features in the sculptural design. The first functions as a kitchen/bar unit and the second as a washbasin and bathtub unit". Notable projects also include the Canal Building Loft in London (2001) and Donnelly Gallery Residence, Dublin (2002).

Other significant projects are the Victoria Miro Private Collection Space, again in London, for which he won the Chicago Athenaeum International Architectural Award in 2009, Calvin Klein boutique on Avenue Montaigne, Paris and recent Torino Outlet Village in Settimo Torinese, Turin.

In 2002, together with engineer J. Hardwick, Silvestrin designed the Museum of Contemporary Art, Turin for Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. The project won the Gold Medal for Italian Architecture at the Milan Triennale (2003).
The linear design of the Museum provides an 11,000 sq.m. exhibition space and “does not follow the contemporary trend for assertive, sensationalist architecture (...). The design is based on a configuration similar to that of a typical factory or workshop in northern Italy". The 9-meter high hangar-like structure is 130 meters in length. The project is completed by a series of areas with various functions, including a 150-seat conference room, library and restaurant.

CSA has also won numerous awards for an extensive project comprising 18 villas at the Sandy Island Housing Development, Singapore.
Silvestrin’s multi-disciplinary design vision is evident in his numerous products for Boffi, Illy Caffè, Brix and Poltrona Frau.
Books dedicated to his work include the detailed monograph Timeless Italian Style: Architecture, Design, Philosophy (Design Media Publishing, UK, 2017).
 
Claudio Silvestrin selected works, products and projects
 
- Torino Outlet Village, Settimo Torinese (Italia), 2017
- Cannon Lane House, Londra (Regno Unito), 2016
- Roka Restaurant, Londra (Regno Unito), 2014
- Interior ristorante Oblix, Londra (Regno Unito), 2013
- Interior del Castello di Rocca Sinibalda, Rieti (Italia), 2013
- Sandy Island, 18 ville, Sentosa Cove, Singapore, 2012
- Tavoli in marmo di Carrara Oriente/Occidente per Glas
- P Apartment, Parigi (Francia), 2011
- Muse Hotel Resort, St. Tropez (Francia), 2009
- Spa And Wellness Center, Busan (Corea del Sud), 2009
- Interior - Kanye West Loft, New York (USA), 2007
- Victoria Miro Private Collection Space, Londra (Gran Bretagna), 2006
- Poltrona Frau - H_O Presidential Office Collection, 2006
- Panetteria Princi, Milano (Italia) 2006
- Interior - Esplanade Apartments, Melbourne (Australia), 2005
- Edificio per uffici Kotelna, Praga (Repubblica Ceca), 2004
- Museo di Arte Contemporanea, Torino (Italia), 2002
- Donnelly Gallery Residence, Dublino (Irlanda), 2002
- Interior - Giada's stores, worldwide
- Macchina caffè espresso, Illy, 2001
- Interior - Canal Buiding Loft, Londra (Gran Bretagna), 2001
- Interior - Giorgio Armani's stores, worldwide, dal 1999
- Design - I Fiumi Collection, Boffi, 1999
- Calvin Klein Store, Parigi (Francia), 1997
- The Johan Men's Wear Store, Graz (Austria), 1992
- Bartos House, Provenza (Francia), 1992
- Villa Neuendorf, Maiorca (Spagna), 1991
- Miro House, Londra (Gran Bretagna), 1988
 
Official website:
 
www.claudiosilvestrin.com



 


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