Architecture’s power couple, Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, are the artistic duo behind Studio Fuksas. Based in Rome, Paris and Shenzhen, the artists turned architects have solidified an innovative style over the past forty years working on projects that range from urban centers, airports and museums, to interiors of private homes and design collections.
The Making of Studio Fuksas
Massimiliano was born and raised in Rome where he was initially drawn to painting and being an artist. In the sixties, his developing interest in architecture led him to London and Copenhagen where he worked for renowned firms such as Archigram, Henning Larsen, and Jørn Utzon. Upon his return to Rome, he received a degree in architecture from the La Sapienza University and eventually opened his first office, initially known as the GRANMA.
(Image source: Gianmarco Chieregato)
In 1985, he partnered with his wife Doriana to open Studio Fuksas and has never looked back. Later offices were opened in Paris, Vienna, Frankfurt, and Shenzhen, China. With the addition of Doriana, whose credentials include a first degree in History of Modern and Contemporary Architecture at the University of Rome and a second degree in Architecture from École Spéciale d’Architecture, Paris, Studio Fuksas has become an outstanding international architectural firm.
(Image source: Leonardo Finotti)
Together, Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas have designed over 600 awe inspiring projects such as the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport’s Terminal 3, Rome’s EUR convention center and hotel, and the Chengdu Tianfu cultural and performance center in China. The duo have also received significant praise from the international architecture community by winning awards such as the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Gold Medal for Italian Architecture, and the Ignazio Silone International Prize for Culture.
The Studio Fuksas Philosophy
The Fuksas philosophy is to use expression in place of strategy as their driving force. Massimiliano exclaims, “We don’t believe in strategy. People think we have to give something else, but what we try to give is the possibility of expression, the possibility of emotion. Emotion and strategy are opposite. I don’t think that you have to use strategy for emotion. Perhaps you can use emotion for strategy, but never strategy for emotion”.
(Image source: www.leonardofinotti.com)
With expression and emotion leading the way, they strive to forget their past work and move forward with continuously new designs. This means that instead of drawing upon past motifs and ideas, they believe in discovering, trying, touching and learning something new to draw inspiration from every single day.
They are not afraid to use technology in their work. They embrace the modern world and it’s ever evolving nature. They believe in living with today’s life, not against it. This means constantly thinking about what they can contribute to the future and how much they can give to others, expecting nothing in return.
Experiencing Studio Fuksas
The experience of walking into a Studio Fuksas building makes you want to stay and enjoy. Massimiliano and Doriana aim to give their visitors a pleasant feeling, like walking into a public square or marketplace.
(Image source: Leonardo Finotti)
For example, when describing their EUR convention center, Massimiliano explains, “The EUR building to me is like a piazza, as we said. Underneath is a place for exhibitions, and everything else. Inside there is an auditorium, a place you can stop and have dinner, or just a coffee, something like this. The whole building works. This is the idea… you have to feel normal and refreshed. It should be a place where you could sit there and stay.”
Another example of one such work is their Georgian cultural complex in Rhike Park, Tbilisi. The building comprises two tubular sculptural elements, connected as one by a retaining wall. They both open up to an adjacent green space. Each tubular element serves a unique function—the musical theatre and the exhibition hall.
(Image source: Joel Rookwood)
The musical theatre comprises a 566 seat auditorium with a cafeteria, storage areas and technical facilities. It’s unique shape has earned it the nickname, “periscope to the city”, because it frames spectacular views of the river, historic Old Tbilisi and more. The exhibition hall welcomes visitors inside with an open staircase and ramp.
The €40 million building is embellished with a tessellated pattern of steel and glass panels and is reminiscent of their previous projects, like the hotel management school in Montpellier with triangular shaped windows embedded into curving facades.
Designing For the Times
With all the hype surrounding Studio Fuksas, Massimiliano and Doriana remain humble and focused on their work. And, as they march Studio Fuksas into the future, with no end in sight, they continue using their architecture to affect humanity. Good architecture can create a real impact, and according to Doriana, “the right proportions are a place where you feel home. If you live in a horrible place, in a house that is not so nice, you don’t feel well — it is much more difficult. If you can help people live better, this is important. These are our thoughts on architecture. It is not necessarily the monument that is important, the house is important.
Following in their philosophy to keep with the times, they’ve adapted their designs to fit the drastically different lifestyle of today’s generation.