Geography, as much as anything, has obliged the independent practitioner that I have been most of my life to collaborate with an extraordinary range of people, not just amongst those who provide work, but also those who execute it.
Language skills naturally help, but here I wish to express (in alphabetical order) gratitude to some of the highly talented and worthy individuals without whom much of what is presented on these pages would never have seen the light of day.
BIRDS PORTCHMOUTH RUSSUM Architects, a London-based practice (two of whose partners preceded me through the same School of Architecture at Kingston Polytechnic) have always provided (and sometimes solicited from me) the clear critical insight of peer practitioners grounded in a common design ethic, demanding of the purveyor, even though the sphere & scope of our work is radically different.
Pietro FOLLINI, art director in the communications industry & associate in Galleria L’Affiche, Milan, which I had assisted in ‘placing’ numerous items in pizzerie & other social venues took with hardly a pinch of salt (in the wake of Memphis and Studio Alchymia) a design counter-proposal which we called Studio Aldilà. The cover of our mock-up ‘catalogue’ (still in his possession) was rough-grained sandpaper, so as ‘to make our mark’ indelibly.
Mimmo (Domenico) LERRO, a former disciple of Aldo Rossi, established in Campania Felix, regularly called upon my services during the 1980’s & 1990’s as perspective draughtsman and consultant co-designer for many of his signatory projects. His Teano archives surely contain some of my best drawings.
POZZI & VERGA snc, of Mariano Comense, is a family firm of expert cabinet-makers, continuously active through 3 generations, specialists of prototipistica.
Massimiliano and Federico POZZI have not only completely procured & executed several of my Furniture Pieces, their precious input informing design decisions calls for recognition where it is due.
POZZI & VERGA snc, of Mariano Comense, is a family firm of expert cabinet-makers, continuously active through 3 generations, specialists of prototipistica.
Massimiliano and Federico POZZI have not only completely procured & executed several of my Furniture Pieces, their precious input informing design decisions calls for recognition where it is due.
Although my wife & I have been the commissioning client, we have collaborated conceptually, since 2016, on the design of a sofa-cum-bed, rotating LED lamps fitted to it, solid-sprung dining-chairs.
Fabio REINHART, arguably one of Switzerland’s most influential figures in Europe’s late 20th C. architectural was instrumental in a number of professional opportunities, notably an introduction to those who in 2009 invited me to teach at SUPSI in Lugano.
My translation into English of one of Fabio’s pithy texts is to be found here :
Fabio REINHART, arguably one of Switzerland’s most influential figures in Europe’s late 20th C. architectural forum (both in teaching and practice), and (highly critical) personal friend since 1979, was pivotal in orienting a number of professional opportunities that came ‘our way’. Unable myself to join his team for the Carlo Felice opera house, in Genova he took on Mike RUSSUM. Remembering an architectural night tour of London by night after a lecture that the 9H group had asked me to arrange, Fabio would introduce me to those who in 2009 invited me to teach at SUPSI in Lugano, in the department he had himself set up. Few more loyal & encouraging friends can a man meet and share a lifetime’s friendship with than REINHART.
My translation into English of one of Fabio’s pithy texts is to be found here :
Aldo ROSSI, for whom I worked before he became planet-famous (ALESSI, PRITZKER…) has overshadowed my architectural career since 1979. His wit and intelligence have burrowed deep into my subconscious. Ultimately no genuine disciple of his where design approach is concerned, honesty forces me to admit that if I ever had maître à penser, it was surely he.
Two distinct periods of collaboration, ten years apart, define my initiation to the practice of architecture (as employee) and the vagiaries of practice consolidation (as independent architect & project partner).
Louise COTTER & David NAESSENS, Irish architects practicing out of Cork, commended to me in the early 1980’s by one Paul KEOGH of Dublin, himself instrumental in introducing me to the crème de la crème of Irish architecture.
Isabella SASSI FARÌAS, multilingual Como-based photographer, trained as an architect, was instrumental in having me engaged by SUPSI and appointed my assistant. When my contract expired, she proposed prolonging our collaboration. Having furniture made in Brianza provided the opportunity. See relevant pages for her photographs taken at intervals in disperse locations (P&V, Castello di Roccabianca, Villa Emo, Castello di Montechiarugolo…) of several of my Furniture Pieces.
Related or parent pages :
Interventions by date (reverse chronology)
Take Your Pick (thematic groupings)
opus incertum 