Valerio Olgiati (born 18 July 1958 in Chur) is an internationally active Swiss architect, and son of the Swiss architect Rudolf Olgiati.
Valerio Olgiati studied architecture until 1986 at ETH ZüricH. Having lived and worked first in Zurich and later in Los Angeles for some years with Frank Escher, in 1996 he opened his own practice in Zurich and in 2008 in Flims. As a guest professor he taught at ETH Zürich, at Architectural Association School of Architecture London and at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Since 2002 he has been a full professor at the Accademia di architettura Mendrisio at the Università della Svizzera italiana. From fall 2009 he holds the Kenzo Tange Chair at Harvard University, Cambridge, United States.
Valerio Olgiati shot by Michael Olsson
Location: Muharraq- Bahrain
Project Year: 2019
Architect Valerio Olgiati designed the Pearling Site Museum for the Bahrain Authority of Culture & Antiquities to serve as an entrance to the ‘Pearling Path’ – a trail that connects the historic sites of Bahrain. Set against the coarse background of Muharraq city, the building creates an iconic presence through the use of a large roof having geometric openings for wind circulation which is supported by a colony of columns all made out of concrete.
Location: Miami, USA
Project Year: 2018
This two-storeyed structure by architect Olgiati is designed to provide the customers of the store with a contemporary experience through the use of pastel-colored marble for all interior spaces.
Location: Scharans, Switzerland
Project Year: 2007
The structure of Atelier Bardill provides a striking contrast against its simple backdrop of a traditional Swiss village through its rust-colored geometric appearance. These geometric walls with flower stamps embedded on them, conceal a courtyard and a minimalistic working space inside it.
Location: Zug, Switzerland
Project Year: 2007
Architect Olgiati’s residential building in Zug, Switzerland is designed to be visually distinct from its surroundings due to its reddish color and façade with elliptical openings. This protruding facade, while serving as an attractive feature also separates the apartment building visually and physically from opposite buildings.
Location: Flims, Switzerland
Project Year: 1999
Originally a farmhouse, this building gets its name from the yellow façade that it used to wear. While redesigning, Olgiati removed a lot of its internal structures, filled in unnecessary windows, and replaced the original roof with a new slab-stone roof. This award-winning design now serves as an exhibition space, museum, and conference venue for Alpine and international architecture and arts.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerio_Olgiati
http://www.olgiati.net/
https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/design-studio-portfolios/a3603-valerio-olgiati-12-iconic-projects/