Architecture Nights '07 to continue with debates

Architecture Nights '07, organised by the Kamra tal-Periti (Chamber of Architects) for the second consecutive year, kicked off on March 24 at the Aula Magna with world renowned Italian architect Manfredi Nicoletti, who delivered an enthralling presentation of his projects and theories to a packed house.

The debates will now follow with Swiss giant architect Mario Botta - a debate organised under the patronage of the Swiss Embassy in Malta. The first one is to be held on Friday at 7.30 p.m. at the Powerhouse Theatre, Valletta Waterfront. Entrance is free.

For architects and architectural enthusiasts worldwide, Mario Botta certainly needs no introduction. Following an apprenticeship within the architectural studios of Carloni and Camenisch in Lugano, Switzerland, Botta graduated in 1969 from the Istituto Universitario d'Architettura in Venice, under the supervision of professors Carlo Scarpa and Giuseppe Mazzariol. During the time spent in Venice, he met and worked for architecture giants Le Corbusier and Louis I. Kahn.

His professional activity commenced in 1970 in Lugano and his first projects consisted of the case Unifamiliari in Canton Ticino and subsequently numerous projects all around the world. He has always been heavily involved in the educational aspect of architecture and has, in recent years, created and founded the Academy of Architecture at Mendrisio.

Botta's work has been granted numerous international recognitions, namely the Merit Award for Excellence in Design by AIA for the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco; the IAA Annual Prix 2005, International Academy of Architecture of Sofia for the Kyobo tower in Seoul; the International Architecture Award of the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design; and the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage Europea Nostra for the restructuring of the La Scala Theatre in Milan. Needless to say, there have been several exhibitions dedicated to his work and research.

His most celebrated completed projects include the theatre and House of Culture in Cambéry; the Waterium art gallery in Tokyo; Mediatheque in Villeurbanne; Evry Resurrection Cathedral; Jean Tinguely museum in Basilea; the municipal library in Dortmund; the Dürrenmatt centre in Neuchâtel; the MART Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rovereto; the Tata CS administrative buildings in New Delhi and Hydrabad; the Bodmer Foundation museum in Cologny; the Giovanni XXIII pastoral centre in Seriate and the library in Bergamo; the Church dedicated to Santo Volto in Turin and Tschuggen Berg Oase wellness centre in Arosa.

From among his projects currently underway, those meriting due mention are the office and residential complex in Treviso, the University library in Trento, the Bechtler Art Museum in Charlotte, the Art Gallery and Museum of the Tsinghua University in Beijing, the Leeum offices in Seoul, the underground railway stations in Naples, the new auditorium in Rimini and the Architecture Museum in Mendrisio.