Mario Cucinella was born in Palermo in 1960 and graduated in Architecture at the University of Genoa in 1986.

In 1992, in Paris, he founded MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, an architecture and design firm that has now headquarters in Bologna and Milan, and of which he is also the creative director.

In 2015 he founded SOS - School of Sustainability, a school for young professionals and recent graduates that focuses on the application of sustainable architecture and design to give future decisions makers the tools necessary to tackle the environmental issues that are emerging globally with an open-minded, holistic, research-driven, and human-centred approach.

The importance of his work and continued commitment as an architect and educator on environmental and social issues have been recognized with the International Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects (2016) and with the Honorary Fellowship of the American Institute of Architects (2017).

In 2018 he was curator of the Italian Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale with the exhibition “Arcipelago Italia”.

On 20 June 2024, MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects received the ADI Compasso d'Oro Award for the 'Museo d'Arte Fondazione Luigi Rovati' project.

Mario Cucinella has taught at the universities of Ferrara, Naples, Munich, and Nottingham.

He is the author of many publications including:
The future is a journey to the past. Ten stories about architecture (2021, published by Quodlibet) In this book Mario Cucinella – together with Valentina Torrente and Laura Zevi - describes ten trips to cities and places that gave him valuable insights into environmental issues and the rational use of available energy.
Architecture of Education (2021, published by Maggioli), an analysis of how the most important places in civil society will be able to evolve thanks to architecture and the dynamics it is able to generate, through a multi-voiced narrative alternating with design solutions developed by Mario Cucinella Architects.
Building Green Futures (2020, published by Forma), a volume that investigates, through a collection of the latest projects and most representative architecture of Mario Cucinella Architects, possible answers that architecture can provide to the global challenges of the future.

Luciano Carbone joined MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects in March 2024 and has held the role of Chief Executive Officer since october.

He is currently Senior Advisor at Milanosesto SpA after having been Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO for almost two years and Chief Corporate Officer for another two years.

Below are the most recent and significant experiences in other companies.
In SEA - Aeroporti di Milano SpA - he held the role of Director of Human Resources and Group Organization for two years and Chief Corporate Officer for another ten.
He was Director of Human Resources and Organization of Trenitalia - Gruppo Ferrovie dello Stato.
He held the same role for Salvatore Ferragamo SpA.
At the Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia he held the role of General Director.
In Ferrero SpA he worked (for ten years) initially as Head of Industrial Relations and Coordinator of European Projects, then as Director of Human Resources and Organization.

It turns out that his fields of expertise are those of Human Capital and General Management.
He has been a member of other Boards of Directors, including ADR - Aeroporti di Roma, Fondazione Adecco and EEMS SpA.
He is vice president of the Academia Montis Regalis Foundation of Baroque music.

‍

“Relations first!” is Simone’s motto, the common thread that binds her entire personal journey.

Training in Sales Management and Real Estate Management, passion for the humanities: or rather, for the “human” tout court and the endless relationships it can generate.
In MCA since 2018 with the role Business Development Director, she is in charge of strategy bringing her great experience also in the international field.

For 10 years in the Radici Group (Miro Radici Distribuzione and Miro Radici Finance Spa), first Area Manager and then Real Estate Manager, from 2002 to 2012 he was in charge of managing the group’s real estate assets and international development working in Africa, China and South America.
From 2012 to 2015 he joined the Calzaferri Group holding various roles within the group companies as CEO and General Manager. In 2015 he is called by Impresa Percassi as Commercial Director with the Mission to grow the company and develop new market's goal that he achieves quadrupling the turnover in just 3 years.

In 2018 he is called by Mario Cucinella to serve as Commercial Director in MCA, and is fully in tune with the transversality that animates the Group. He contributes to the Firm’s growth by developing the National territory and with the acquisition of complex projects for international developers.

‍

Giulio Desiderio is Project Director at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Following his graduation from the University Institute of Architecture in Venice in 1994, he joined the Superintendency of Artistic and Historical Heritage of Modena and Reggio-Emilia in 1995.

He then moved to Germany, where he worked with internationally renowned studios and successfully took part in several competitions for the design and construction of complex works. Back in Italy, from 2000 to 2015 he worked as technical manager at an international engineering company, where he lead multidisciplinary teams and developed skills in the management and control of public processes.

Between 2014 and 2016, he served on the Culture Commission of the Ferrara Order of Architects. He was also a member of the Architectural and Landscape Quality Commission of Cento; he continues to hold this position in Finale Emilia. His projects have been published in numerous magazines and won prestigious international awards. During his career he received awards on innovation and urban regeneration, and co-authored scientific publications on the theory and technique of hospital design and specialised care centres.

He has been part of the MCA team since 2015, where he is in charge of coordination and design of complex works. He worked as an Operations Manager and currently as Senior Project Director, overseeing the planning and control of the overall design production. He is an expert in hospital research and design, having supervised more than 10 high-complexity hospitals in Italy for MCA.

Vittoria Palamara works as Tender Coordinator at Mario Cucinella Architects.

A graduate in Architecture with top marks, she honed her skills working with leading architectural and engineering firms; she has solid experience in managing tenders for major public works. She is currently involved in the search for new business opportunities, coordination of tender procedures, management of consultants and contractualisation of orders.

Her education and work experience demonstrate a broad competence in business development in both public and private contexts.

Carlotta Reggiani works as Tender Coordinator at Mario Cucinella Architects.

She graduated in 2004 in Communication Sciences from the University of Bologna with a thesis on "Personal Identity Construction in Internet Relay Chat (IRC)".

With more than ten years of experience as a Tender Specialist for various Italian companies, she has demonstrably managed the drafting of administrative documentation for bids on national and international works and service contracts, taking full ownership and responsibility for the entire process. Since 2018, she has been part of the MCA Team in Business Development and Tender Coordination.

For many years, she volunteered her time with leading cultural organizations and associations, where she handled event organization, communication, help desk support, and database management.

Qianlan Shi works as Tender Specialist for the Asian Market at Mario Cucinella Architects.

She earned a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Hunan City University in China and subsequently a Master's degree in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in Italy.

After formative work experiences in architectural and interior design, she focused on project management and joined the MCA team in 2019, specializing in tender preparation and public relations within the Asian market.

Beatrice De Simoni is Assistant Director and Internal Communication at MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects, Milan office. She assists the President and founder Mario Cucinella and the Director Delegato.

She graduated in Languages with a specialization in economics from the Catholic University of Milan.

From 2013 to 2015 she collaborated with some firms both in Italy and abroad with administrative roles.

From 2015 to 2024 he worked at a company in the Real Estate sector working as Executive Assistant (CEO and CFO) with Office Manager responsibilities. In this capacity, he managed administrative activities, coordinated the team and took care of external relations, particularly in the Marketing and Communication sector.

Since 2024 he has been collaborating with the MCA firm.

Lidia Tekeste works as a Receptionist at Mario Cucinella Architects, Milan office.

‍

She obtained a degree in 2019 in Foreign Languages and Literatures from the University of Milan and, later, a Master's degree in Tourism Quality Management.

Subsequently, she volunteered for a year at an Italian environmental association, raising awareness of the issue of sustainability.

‍

After work experience in the hotel industry, in 2023 he joined the MCA team dealing with reception and switchboard and mail management.

‍

Michele Olivieri works as Atelier Unit Director and Design Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

He is specialised in sustainable urban design and is an expert in integrated design, architecture, engineering, and landscape architecture.

From 2003 to 2004, he studied Urbanism and Industrial Design in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, at the Pontificia Università Cattolica del Paranà, and worked at the prestigious IPPUC Institute of Urban Planning and Research of Cutiriba, Brazil. He graduated in Architecture from the Faculty of Ferrara in 2005.

From 2006 to 2010, he carried out research for the University of Ferrara and Venice (IUAV), obtaining a PhD in Architectural Technology with the thesis "Vegetation on building façades for microclimate control".

He has been collaborating with Mario Cucinella Architects since 2008, taking part in large-scale urban regeneration projects and hospital.

Nicola Tommaso Bettini works as Design Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Bologna, he studied at the FAF - Faculty of Architecture Ferrara and later on at the Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark. He graduated in 2000, and between 1996 and 2006 he collaborated with several international studios in Italy, Denmark and Portugal.

In 2007, he started his own studio based in Bologna, where he carried out both public and private projects obtaining prestigious awards in international competitions. Moreover, between 2009 and 2011 he tutored the Technical Architecture course at the Faculty of Engineering in Bologna.

Donato Labella is Design Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

He graduated in Architecture from the University of Rome La Sapienza in 2012 and then moved to Tokyo, Japan, where he worked for a major international studio on retail and workspace projects. He returned to Rome in 2015, where he worked with a large international studio as Design Leader, carrying out several projects from concept to construction.

In 2018 he joined Mario Cucinella Architects, where he specialises on three-dimensional and parametric modelling for interior design management and the application of innovative construction technologies. Furthermore, he oversees projects through all phases, from concept design to construction delivery.

He is an expert in integrated architectural design of complex projects and interior design. He possesses strong skills in artistic management and supervision of projects, technical understanding of materials and construction solutions, and activity coordination. These skills were further honed through his postgraduate Master's degree in "Project Management in Construction Works with BIM" at the Politecnico di Milano.

Cristina Gambioli is Project Director at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Barcelona (Spain), she studied between Italy and Germany, earning a double degree in Architecture and Building Engineering from UNIVPM Ancona and participating in cultural exchange programs at TU Darmstadt and Skk University in Seoul. She approached urban planning and participatory design strategies by leading a pilot project and through an experience as a teaching assistant at the HafenCity University in Hamburg.

She honed her expertise in designing mid-rise buildings and towers while working for prestigious international architectural firms in Munich and Hamburg. During this time, she developed a strong skillset in façade design, BIM methodologies, project scheduling, and construction documentation.

Since 2019, she has been part of the MCA team, where she coordinates the entire project lifecycle from concept to completion for both residential and hospitality buildings and ultra-luxury villas.

Cristina manages complex international projects, offering collaborative solutions to meet the client's objectives and requirements in terms of proposed design, timing and budget.

She enjoys exploring the underwater world as a scuba enthusiast.

Marco is an architect and works as Design Manager and Architects Coordinator at Mario Cucinella Architects in Milan (IT). He has extensive experience in complex buildings and urban projects, with special focus on sustainable design strategies.

He graduated in Sustainable Architecture at IUAV University of Venice (IT).

From 2010 to 2020 he worked as Architect and Project Leader in architecture and urban design firms in The Netherlands. He led projects in Europe, China and South-Eastern Asia, developing flexible and site-specific strategies to match local culture, diverse values and specific opportunities for sustainable design. Projects often required research work and the development of specific communication tools.

In 2022 he joined Mario Cucinella Architects. He has been working on projects in the metropolitan area of Milan and abroad which required switching between building and urban scale. His work involves the coordination of interdisciplinary teams of consultants in order to develop the most suitable design strategies.

As Architects Coordinator of Milan office, he takes part to events, gives lectures and presentations about Mario Cucinella Architects work and values.

Elena Giugni is Project Director at Mario Cucinella Architects.

He received his master's degree with honors in Architecture from the University of Ferrara, Italy, where he completed his studies with an exchange program at TU Delft, the Netherlands.

Elena has a multidisciplinary approach and solid experience in design and construction processes in both national and international residential and hospitality projects. She spent a decade in well-known studios between Barcelona and Istanbul, where she worked on luxury hotels and residential developments throughout the Mediterranean Sea.

Since 2018 I have been part of the MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects team, working on several important projects.

Valentina Grasso is Project Director at Mario Cucinella Architects.

After graduating with honours from the Faculty of Architecture of Reggio Calabria in 2012, she was a teaching assistant for several architectural and urban design firms, and a researcher at the International Institute of Architecture (Lugano, Switzerland), where she co-authored a publication. In 2018, she obtained an Executive Master in Project Management in Milan, Italy.

She worked for several international firms, where she gained experience in strategic and multidisciplinary projects at different scales - from new developments to the regeneration of historical and urban complexes - honing her design, management and relational skills.

She has managed complex projects in various national and international high-profile contexts, from concept to realization.