Laura Zevi is an architect, Project manager and Design manager at MCA specialised in sustainable urban scale and exhibition content.

Born in Rome, Italy 1988, she graduated in architecture from the Facoltà “La Sapienza L.Quaroni, in Rome in 2014. During university she participated in international workshops in China and Israel West bank focusing on the regeneration of the urban area and dealing with the renovation of the headquarters of Shourouq Society for Women.

From 2016-2017 she joined the School of Sustainability devoloping the guidlines for the recostruction of Camerino after the earthquake focusing both on enviromental, sustainable and participatory process.

From 2018 she collaborates with the studio MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects first in Bologna then in Milan, Italy, working as an architect and project/design manager in different projects with several scales from the urban scale to the building using Bim technology, and research.

Diego Baronchelli is a Landscape Architect and works as Project Leader - Senior Landscape Architect at Mario Cucinella Architects.

With a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Genoa, he brings expertise in landscape design both on territorial and urban scale, from initial concepts to final construction oversight. His focus lies on climate change and the transformation of urban and rural spaces.

As a project leader, he has collaborated with esteemed studios on the landscape design of high-profile national and international projects.

He firmly believes in integrated and multidisciplinary design for high-quality public spaces, and his technical proficiency extends to computer software for landscape design, BIM modelling and technical drawing of executive details.

In 2023, he joined Mario Cucinella Architects as head of the landscape discipline.

Maria Elena Beccaria Balduzzi is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Milan, she graduated in Architecture with excellent marks from the IUAV University in Venice and earned a Master's degree in Architectural Technology at the University of Aalborg, Denmark. During her studies, she undertook an exchange program at the Technische Universität in Dortmund, Germany, and at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

Her thesis project in Mongolia, exploring social integration and participatory design principles, was made possible by an honorable mention in Building Trust International's Cool School competition.

She gained experience working for various architectural firms in Italy and abroad, specializing in architectural design and consulting. In 2017, she furthered her knowledge in sustainability by obtaining a Master's degree from SOS - School of Sustainability, before joining the MCA team.

Building on her solid experience, she now coordinates projects as Project Leader.

Tommaso Boschi works as Project Leader and BIM Coordinator at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Bologna, he graduated in Architecture from the University of Ferrara in 2014 with a thesis on museography and museum restoration of rationalist summer colonies.

He has worked on restoration projects of historical buildings, new residential buildings, hotels and wine cellars. In 10 years of work experience he has managed different project scales, from single flats to entire neighbourhoods, acquiring a solid knowledge of the entire project life cycle, from the initial phase to the technical design. By supervising construction on site, he has honed his skills in interior design, in the selection of the finishes and of technological systems and details, always with a keen eye on ecology and the environment. At the same time, he has always had a great passion for the Building Information Modelling, that led him to become an expert Revit user, managing complex modelling and coordinating project teams.

His greatest passion is travelling, seeing the world and discovering new cultures and lifestyles; his great curiosity brought him to the four corners of the planet: from Bolivia to Tibet, from Cambodia to Syria, from Yemen to Patagonia, from Saudi Arabia to Uzbekistan, not forgetting Europe of course.

Teo Brandi is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

He is specialised in Architectural and Urban Design, with particular reference to Landscape and Public Space Design.

Born in Pesaro, he earned a single-cycle Master's degree in Architecture in 2017 at the University of Rome "La Sapienza", and studied a year abroad at the University of Architecture in Stuttgart. In 2020, he obtained a Master's degree in landscape design at the I.U.A.V. University of Venice.

After his studies, he worked as an architect with several Italian firms and joined the MCA team in 2018. Here he works on international projects, ranging from the initial concept phase to final and executive design development.

Celeste joined MCA as an architect in 2021.

Prior to joining MCA, she had been working in Santiago de Chile, London and Milan. She worked on several competitions and large scale projects in high-profile architectural firms.
Celeste attended her master’s degree in Politecnico di Milano and Pontificia Universidad Catòlica de Chile. She graduated cum laude in 2017.

After graduation, Celeste had the opportunity to join several research projects at Politecnico di Milano, where she also worked as assistant professor.
During her professional career she was involved in the development of international projects at all key stages, from concept to construction stage.

Since her collaboration with MCA, Celeste has been in charge of the artistic direction of a building site and has matured experience in coordinating multidisciplinary teams of professionals.

María Dolores del Sol Ontalba is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Madrid, she is specialised in Architectural and Urban Design. She graduated in Building Engineering at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM) and then earned her Master Degree in Architecture at the University of Roma Tre, with a thesis on the principles of Universal Design.

Launching her career in 2012, she honed her skills collaborating with international architectural studios in Italy and Portugal. In 2015, she earned a prestigious award in temporary architecture, and her design was showcased at the Festival des Architectures Vives in France. Her diverse portfolio encompasses cultural institutions like museums, healthcare facilities like hospitals, and urban regeneration plans. Currently collaborating with Mario Cucinella Architects, she brings innovative solutions to complex projects of varying scale.

Her holistic approach to design intertwines human interaction, design and technical thinking, and she leads projects from concept definition to technical design, ensuring clear communication and feasibility.

Alessandro Gazzoni is an Architect and works as Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Over the years he gained a great experience in sustainable and integrated design.

He has extensive experience in the development and management of architectural projects with complex functional and technological content, both on a large scale and in detail, especially in the residential and hospitality sector.

He graduated in architecture from the IUAV in Venice and after several years of experience abroad he founded his own studio, where for over 10 years he personally directed the projects from the design phase to the executive development, up to the direction of work on complex construction sites.

Always stimulated by curiosity and a lover of challenges, he has been passionate about sailing since he was a child.

Laura La Mendola is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Agrigento, she graduated in 2017 from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Palermo. Her thesis on the redevelopment of the historic centre of Agrigento received a special mention and an important award for the themes of land and heritage valorisation, and sustainability strategies.  

During her studies, she explored sustainable urban development issues and participated in several international workshops, specialising in Sustainable Design and Urban Regeneration. She then worked for a major international firm in Paris and furthered her studies by obtaining a Master's degree from SOS - School of Sustainability.

In 2018, she joined Team MCA, initially as a parametric designer and BIM Specialist, then becoming Project Leader.

Giulia Mariotti is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Pesaro, she is an Architect and Construction Engineer with over 9 years of international experience on diverse projects, from urban planning to residential and furniture design.

Following her studies in Architecture at the University of Bologna, she embarked on a successful international journey, working for over 3 years with renowned teams in Beijing, China. Back in Italy, she continued her career collaborating with prominent architectural studios.

An expert in parametric design, she joined the MCA Team in 2020, after an initial experience in 2013. There, she works on major projects of national and international scale as a designer and expert in three-dimensional modelling, parametric and computational design. In addition, she has experience as a tutor and conference speaker.

Lapo Medici joined MCA as a Senior Architect in 2021.

He obtained a Master Degree in Architecture in 2012 at the University of Rome “Sapienza”, where he also had the opportunity to be part of an international workshop exchange program with the “Myongji” University of Seoul, South Korea, focused on the reuse and refurbishment of disaffected industrial buildings.

After graduation, he gained experience working for many relevant international architecture firms, in Hamburg and in Paris, where he could gain knowledge and experience in the coordination and development of many national and international large-scale public projects, such as hospitals, schools and office buildings.

He is mostly skilled in the final and detail design stages of the building process, especially in conjunction with BIM methods. Since he began his collaboration with MCA, he has been able to further grow his skills in the development of complex buildings, such as the new Città della Salute hospital and research center in Milan and the Viertel Zwei residential tower Grünblick in Vienna, for which he is in charge of the artistic direction of the building site.

Benedetta Mingardi works as Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

She is an architect with ten years of experience in the design of public cultural and private residential buildings.

Graduated in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano and with a Master's degree from the SOS School of Sustainability, she has developed expertise in sustainable design, focusing on the environmental and social impact of projects. Her background includes studies in Anthropology, Religion and Oriental Philosophies at the University of Bologna, which widen her design approach with an interdisciplinary perspective.

After graduating, Benedetta travelled and worked for a year in South America, discovering a passion for indigenous cultures that enriched her design vision and cultural sensitivity. This experience was in line with her Master's thesis, set in Akko, Israel, where she analysed the capacity of public space to promote social inclusion as a form of land protection.

Benedetta firmly believes in the role of public space for people's well-being and the power of art as a vehicle for exploring the present. In addition to her professional practice, she is engaged in ongoing personal research, exploring and curating her territory with an interest in anthropology and participatory design.

Mariachiara Mondini is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Brescia, she studied at the Universidade Federal da Bahia in Brazil and the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, where she obtained a Master's degree in Architecture in 2014.

In 2021, she deepened her knowledge with a post-graduate course held by the TU Delft (Netherlands) on innovative strategies for global and local urban challenges.

Her proven international experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams equips her to effectively manage complex projects throughout all phases, from conception to realization, across diverse architectural typologies – residences, offices, public buildings, and master plans. This experience spans projects of various functions and scales, honing her skills in organizing and managing intricate processes that demand an interactive approach with specialists, clients, and users.

Antonio Nardozzi is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

A native of Trieste, he graduated in Architecture at the University of Naples Federico II. After graduation in 2006, he moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he worked at renowned international firms, contributing to the development of significant urban transformation projects such as the waterfront with the new port, auditorium, and hospitals. In 2009, he moved to Rome where he worked with a prestigious Italian studio as design leader and project manager, contributing to numerous projects and international competitions. He has been part of the MCA Team since 2018.

An expert in integrated architectural design of complex projects, he stands out for his attention to detail and ability to implement a comprehensive design approach on different scales, from micro to macro.

Luca Tiozzo is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Bologna, he is an engineer specialized in architectural and urban design, with particular reference to the realization of national and international competitions.

He earned a master’s degree in Building Engineering-Architecture in 2018 at the Alma Mater Studiorum in Bologna, after completing an internship at a renowed international architecture firm in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He wrote a thesis project on the redevelopment of the Comacchio Valleys (Ferrara, Italy) using light interventions, both on urban and architectural scale.

He has been collaborating with MCA since 2018, dealing with international projects of different sizes and scale, ranging from the initial concept phase to the detailed and developed design. He is skilled in parametric 3D modeling software, both in defining the initial massing and in developing detailed elements in the following phases.

Fabiola Verde is Project Leader and BIM Coordinator at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Naples, she graduated in Architecture at the University of Naples Federico II in 2016 with a thesis on Architectural Technology focusing on Architectural Acoustics. After graduation, she honed her skills at prestigious international architecture firms, driven by a desire to combine Design and Technology. She handled large-scale design projects in the final and executive phases and concept design for international competitions.

Passionate about architectural composition, digital transformation and optimizing design and construction procedures, Fabiola's journey spans from Architecture to BIM processes across various sectors and scales, being experienced with the digital tools of the BIM methods and procedures. Her roles have varied from Architect and Project Leader to BIM Coordinator, working on a diverse range of projects at different scales and through all the design stages, from conceptual design to design development and final design.

In 2021 she joined the MCA team, where she has been involved in large-scale residential projects, mixed-use buildings and concept designs.

Francesco Visco is Project Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Latina, he is an architect specialised in Architectural and Urban Design.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture and Building Technology with Honours from the University of Rome La Sapienza in 2008, and continued his studies with a Master's Degree in Architecture, Urban Planning and Building Sciences at TU Delft, in the Netherlands.

He started his career as an Architect in the Netherlands, where he collaborated with several international firms from 2011 to 2015. He then moved to Bologna where he attended the Post Graduate course at SOS - School of Sustainability, graduating with a research project for the city's first bioclimatic park. Since 2016, he has been part of the MCA team, where he works on several projects at various scales and different complexity.

He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in Florence with a project for the New Stadium in Faenza, which won an international competition.

Over the course of his career, he has managed major commissions in prominent national firms, gaining solid experience in integrated and global design, managing projects on different scales and in all project phases.

His skills include architectural design, multidisciplinary coordination, construction management, and safety coordination.

He has a particular interest in multidisciplinary projects in which architectural creativity and engineering principles can be combined, and pays particular attention to the interaction between architectural design and the urban, historical and landscape context.

After an experience in south-eastern Cameroon, in 2012 he became co-founder of the ProJoko onlus association to help the Baka pygmies.

Rachid Hicheri is Senior Architect/Technical Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Architect, he founded an international studio in 2001, following projects of commercial and residential complexes in Italy, Egypt, Tunisia, Kazakhstan and Greece.

During his career, he collaborated with several leading firms involved on international projects and competitions; he has a wide-ranging portfolio of projects from urban to architectural scale, including the development of Masterplans, hospitals, hospitality and educational facilities, residential and mixed-use complexes.

In 2014 he joined the MCA Team initially as Senior Architect/Project Manager of projects in North Africa and Arab countries and later as Design Manager and Technical Leader of complexes in Italy.

He has extensive experience in Project Management, Construction Management and integrated architectural design of complex projects, and is fluent in French, Italian, Arabic and English. His design approach and attention to detail enable him to effectively manage projects of a wide variety of scales, from micro to macro.

Simone Papucci works as Technical Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

Born in Florence, Italy, he graduated with honors from the Faculty of Architecture of Florence with the project “A conference center for the Estense Lordship of Voghiera (FE)”.

He honed his skills at a renowned Italian studio, gaining experience both within the studio's specific field and on a larger scale through the development of major projects and collaborations with national players; several significant projects were completed during this time.

He has been collaborating with MCA since 2019 in Bologna, Italy, with an international team of more than one hundred professionals including architects, engineers, designers, model makers, visual artists, the firm has been recognized with numerous national and international awards for its dedication to environmental issues and attention to detail.

Since 2023 he has been part of MCA's Technical Unit as Technical Leader.

Ulrich Seum works as a Technical Leader at Mario Cucinella Architects.

A native German speaker, he studied architecture at the AUS University in Frankfurt. While pursuing his studies, he also gained valuable experience working with a renowned German design studio.

In 1991 he relocated to Italy and embarked on a long-standing collaboration with a design studio in Bologna, which lasted until 2004. Here, in addition to architectural projects, he specialised in the field of restoration, both in the private and public sectors, where he acquired management, technical and economic skills for complex projects, with an aptitude for coordination, planning and scheduling as well as control of commissions.

Since 2018, he has joined the MCA team as a project leader, overseeing projects from concept to technical development. He has also led the design and construction of numerous school and residential building projects.

Thanks to his attention to detail and almost 30 years of experience on construction sites, he is part of MCA’s Technical Unit, with focus on the execution and detailing phase of commissions.

Lori Zillante works as R&D Unit Manager at Mario Cucinella Architects.

She graduated in Building Engineering-Architecture from the Università Politecnica delle Marche, after several experiences abroad at the Universitat politècnica de València and PolyU in Hong Kong, where she worked on her thesis project. In 2018, she joined SOS - School of Sustainability, where she worked on 3D clay printing with the Tecla project.

She carries out research projects on the environmental and social impacts of construction in various contexts, with a focus on the materials life cycle and construction technologies. Expert of 3D printing technology, she has experience in management and development of vulnerable and emergency contexts, promoting participatory processes and focusing on rammed earth construction techniques.

Since 2019, together with the R&D department, Lori supports the office in international projects and competitions of various scales, providing a holistic view of sustainability through environmental research and consultancy.

Lapo Naldoni works as Senior R&D Specialist at Mario Cucinella Architects.

He graduated in Construction Engineering and Architecture from the University of Bologna with a thesis on rammed earth constructions that was presented and published in a major international congress held in Boston in 2018.

He has experience in 3D printing research and development and has worked with this technology at different scales. His research has mainly focused on the use of rammed-earth mortar in 3D printing and topological optimisation for additive manufacturing. He is an assistant professor of Architectural Design at the Alma Mater Studiorum in Bologna since 2017.

Within MCA's R&D unit, Lapo deals with experimental and innovative projects related to the use of new technologies in architecture with a focus on natural materials. The aim of his research is to strengthen the connections between design and construction using robotic technologies.

Since 2023, together with the R&D department, Lapo has worked on international projects and competitions at various scales.

Monica Palladino works as Senior R&D Specialist at Mario Cucinella Architects.

An architect and environmental expert, she is a member of the Research and Development Unit (R&D). She graduated in 2019 in Architecture at the University of Naples Federico II with a thesis on environmental design for climate change, through a focus on environmental strategies for users' comfort. In the same year she attends SOS - School of Sustainability, investigating the field of sustainable and integrated design, ranging from environmental, social and participatory process to circular economy.

In 2020 she started to collaborate with MCA, first on an urban regeneration project, then joining the R&D Unit. Monica is mainly involved in analysing the environmental and social impact of architecture by implementing parametric design, in developing environmental simulations and in research projects related to the climate sphere and user comfort.