5:30 pm RECEPTION / 6:00 pm LECTURE

Leopold Banchini Architects aims to develop an eclectic and non-dogmatic architecture celebrating simplicity, economy and sustainability. We see architecture as a tool to support unexpected and diverse ways of living together and refuse to use buildings as representations of power, wealth or cultural superiority. We value the poetry of construction over composition and admire direct answers to unique sites and contexts. We look for humble aesthetics based on the veracity of expression against preconceived functionalism. We use creativity to encourage alternative models to commercial methods of production and expand the traditional definitions of project making using DIY and re-use cultures as means of emancipation. We challenge established relations of knowledge supremacies and admire the beauty of neo-vernacular buildings and popular intelligence. We see the origins of architectural elements beyond borders and historical periods. We place political and environmental considerations at the very heart of our practice and address architecture as a form of social action. 

Leopold Banchini produces works ranging from small self-built installations to large scale public projects. He has built structures around the world and for a multitude of cultural institutions such as the Musée du quai Branly, the Centre Pompidou, MOT Tokyo, the Centre Culturel Suisse Paris, Swissnex San Francisco, the Ministry of Culture of Bahrain, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Trienal de Arquitectura de Lisboa or Fluxum foundation in Athens. Recently completed projects include cultural buildings, public spaces, social housing, private houses, etc. Leopold Banchini has gained a wide recognition through a number of prizes and publications. Amongst other, it was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Architectural Biennale (with Harry Gugger), the Swiss Art Award and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for its contribution to the revitalization of Muharraq in Bahrain. Its work has been presented at the Swiss Architecture Museum, Art Basel Design at Large, CCB Lisbon, Victoria and Albert Museum, MUDAC Lausanne, amongst other. Its projects have been published in the most renowned design blogs and a wide number of international paper publications. Leopold Banchini invests widely in research, cultural exchanges and knowledge transmission. It has conducted numerous workshops, debates and lectures worldwide. Leopold Banchini has assumed teaching positions at the HEAD Geneva, the Swiss federal institute of technology in Lausanne (EPFL), the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam and at the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio.