Mario Botta Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Mario Botta
Mario Botta (2016)
Born	(1943-04-01) 1 April 1943 (age 82) Mendrisio, Switzerland
Nationality	Swiss
Occupation	Architect

Buildings	National Bank of Greece, Athens San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte, NCKimbrell Fiber Innovation Center Santa Maria degli Angeli, Monte Tamaro, Switzerland

Mario Botta is a famous architect from Switzerland. He was born in Mendrisio, Ticino, on April 1, 1943. When he was just fifteen, Mario Botta left school to learn about architecture. He worked with an architecture company called Carloni and Camenisch in Lugano.

After three years, he went to an Art College in Milan. Then, he studied at the Università Iuav di Venezia and got his degree in 1969. While studying in Venice, he met and worked with other important architects. These included Carlo Scarpa, Louis Kahn, and Le Corbusier. In 1970, Mario Botta opened his own architecture business in Lugano.

Mario Botta's Career and Designs
Mario Botta's Architectural Style
- Materials and Budget
Gallery
See also

Mario Botta's Career and Designs

Mario Botta designed his very first building when he was only 16 years old. It was a house for two families in Morbio Superiore, Switzerland. He finished his studies at the Università Iuav di Venezia in 1969. Even in his early work, you could see hints of his future style. His buildings often have a strong, towering look.

Botta's designs usually feature clear geometric shapes. He often uses simple forms to create unique and interesting spaces. Many of his buildings are made of brick. However, he uses many different materials in creative ways.

Famous Buildings by Mario Botta

You can see Mario Botta's unique style all over Switzerland. It is especially common in the Ticino region. Some of his well-known works include:

The Mediatheque in Villeurbanne (1988).
The Évry Cathedral in Évry, Essonne (1995).
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) (1994).

He also designed the Europa-Park Dome in Germany. This dome hosts many big events at the Europa-Park theme park.

Religious Buildings

Mario Botta has also designed many religious buildings. His works include the Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center. These designs were shown in London at the Royal Institute of British Architects. The exhibition was called Architetture del Sacro: Prayers in Stone.

Botta once said that a church is a very special place for architecture. He believes that when you enter a church, you become part of its history. He feels that a church helps people feel connected to something bigger.

Other Projects and Awards

In 1998, Mario Botta designed a new bus station for Vimercate, near Milan. It is a red brick building with many features. He also worked on renovating the La Scala theatre. This project was a bit controversial because some people worried about losing historic details.

In 2004, he designed Museum One (M1) for the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea. On January 1, 2006, he received a special award from the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. In 2006, he designed his first spa, the Bergoase Spa in Arosa, Switzerland.

Mario Botta was part of the Stock Exchange of Visions project in 2007. He also helped judge the Global Holcim Awards in 2012. In 2014, he won the Javier Carvajal Prize from the University of Navarra.

Collaboration in Athens

One of Botta's lesser-known works is the NBG Insurance Headquarters in Athens, Greece. This building was finished in 2006. He worked with architects Rena Sakellaridou and Morfo Papanikolaou on this project. The office complex has two strong buildings around a public square. This design allows for views of the nearby Acropolis of Athens. It also has an atrium with glass walkways.

Much of this project is built underground. This helps it blend in with the city around it. The design focuses on movement and light. Rena Sakellaridou noted that the project shows Botta's typical style. It has symmetry, clear geometry, and solid shapes.

Mario Botta's Architectural Style

Mario Botta's work is greatly influenced by the Modern architecture movement. He worked with three important Modernist architects: Louis Kahn, Carlo Scarpa, and Le Corbusier. Botta doesn't see himself as a Modernist. Instead, he feels he is responding to their ideas.

His architecture is very connected to nature and is quite simple. Botta believes that architecture is a basic human need. So, he creates buildings that show simplicity and essential forms. He says his architecture is "measured by the yardstick of a man's needs."

Materials and Budget

Mario Botta's style is also shaped by what his clients need. Many of his early projects had a small budget. This meant he had to use less expensive materials, like exposed concrete blocks. Botta believes that the cost of materials does not define good architecture. He thinks great buildings can be made no matter the material.

Botta also feels that architecture expresses history. He sees his job as giving value to low-cost materials through thoughtful design.