Mario Botta

Mario Botta (b. 1943) is a Swiss architect renowned not only for his architectural ventures but also for his significant contributions to design. Botta began his education in Lugano and Milan, ultimately graduating as an architect from the IUAV University of Venice in 1969. The following year, he established his own architectural firm back in Lugano. Botta's work is characterized by bold geometric shapes and precise use of materials, his most acclaimed projects including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Watari Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, the Evry Cathedral in France and the Monte Tamaro Chapel in the Swiss Alps. Botta's portfolio also shows influences from legendary designers such as Le Corbusier, Louis I. Kahn and Carlo Scarpa, whom he met while studying in Venice.