Davide Macullo
Biography
ABOUT
Davide Macullo (b. Giornico, CH, 1965) lives and works in Lugano, Switzerland. He studied art, architecture, and interior design.
For 20 years (1990–2010), he was a project architect in the atelier of Mario Botta, overseeing more than 200 international projects. In 2000, he established his own atelier and has since completed around 800 projects in 49 countries.
The ethos of the studio is to “draw from context,” fostering a dialogue between the specificity of each project and the universality of its surroundings. The studio’s approach to spatial psychology prioritizes human ecology and a conscious design philosophy, emphasizing the power of space to evoke emotions and strengthen the connection between humans and nature.
AWARDS
- Temple of Thought Platinum winner of Houzee Award 2024.
- Ispace XXIII Winner of the Second Award in the 16th edition of Rethinking the Future Awards 2024.
- Wap Art Space Seoul winner of the Architecture Masterprize 2018
PROJECTS TO BE PRESENTED DURING THE EVENT
Project #1: Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, Israel
Start year: 31.05.2011
The new Ashdod hospital is born out of the roots and the culture of Israel; whoever finds himself here, feels at home. The project has been shaped through symbolic design choices that serve, through every detail, to root this new organism to the ground that hosts it and has been developed through the careful consideration of the sensations of both the people who find themselves, at critical moments of their lives, in need of care, and of those who work here. This new communal home has been designed through the eyes of all of those who will benefit from its services, who will experience important moments in an atmosphere of harmony and joy. The ‘hospital of flowers’ reflects the original shared desire of the team to create an environment even before creating a building. The first and lasting impression of the hospital is one of a landscape in bloom.
Project #2: Chenot Palace Weggis
Start year: 01.02.2017
The true beauty of a place lies in its positive influence on people. Chenot Palace Weggis, nestled by Lake Lucerne and framed by the Alps, is designed for human well-being, offering a continuous sense of ease and harmony. Completed between 2018 and 2020, this 20,000 sqm project includes a new timber guest room block, a state-of-the-art medical spa, and the renovation of existing buildings. The design respects the historic hotel’s original lake view, integrating new elements subtly. Timber cladding, bonsai courtyards, and green gardens create a seamless blend of old and new, balancing organic and geometric forms in chromatic harmony. The complex features 97 rooms-52 in the original buildings and 45 in the new timber structure-ensuring an elegant fusion of tradition and modernity.
Project #3: Valona Hills
Start year: 01.09.2024
A building becomes a place when it embraces its character and soul. Valona, with its sea, hills, and sunlight, embodies Mediterranean warmth and peaceful freshness. This essence is reflected in the design, where the lower levels echo the scale of historic settlements, creating a permeable, inviting façade that respects pedestrian perception. Rising above, conical volumes soften the skyline, their curvature diffusing rigidity and blending with the light. These slender forms become luminous, airy presences-icons of Mediterranean openness. The result is a place that enhances rather than imposes, celebrating Valona’s spirit of freedom, light, and natural beauty.