Biographie
Il quitte l’école à 15 ans pour devenir, en 1958, apprenti en tant que dessinateur en bâtiment chez les architectes Luigi Camenisch et Tita Carloni à Lugano et conçoit sa première maison l'année suivante (presbytère de Genestrerio, 1961-63).
De 1961 à 1964, il étudie au « Liceo Artistico » à Milan puis, jusqu'en 1969 à « l'Istituto Universitario di Architettura » à Venise. En parallèle, il travaille en 1965 dans l'atelier de Le Corbusier.
En 1970, il ouvre sa propre agence à Lugano et devient, dès 1978, membre de la fédération suisse des architectes puis, de 1982 à 1987, membre de la commission fédérale des beaux-arts.
Les architectes qui l'ont influencé sont Le Corbusier, Carlo Scarpa et Louis Kahn (Mario Botta: architecture 1960 1985, Electa , 1986 .- 288 ) . Après avoir beaucoup construit en Suisse, en particulier au Tessin, sa réputation dépasse les frontières et il s'impose finalement au niveau international.

Son œuvre
Son travail est classé high tech, il navigue dans ce que Manfredo Tafuri appelle « l’utopie ».
Après avoir construit une vingtaine de maisons individuelles Botta réussit une évolution au début des années 1980 en élargissant son champ d'activité à l’architecture bancaire, puis au design, et enfin à la construction culturelle. Il fut souvent critiqué par l’aspect répétitif de son œuvre.
Les idées fortes que défend Botta sont que « l’architecture n’est pas un problème esthétique, mais éthique », conviction héritée de John Ruskin ; l’assurance que la maîtrise de la lumière n’est possible que par la simplicité des formes ; que la construction est « un acte de dialectique de la nature » ; que la peau d’une façade doit être riche et sobre à la fois.
Mario Botta est un réinventeur des formes les plus simples, les plus évidentes : rond, carré, rectangle et il les décline en de multiples combinaisons. Ses volumes servent ainsi à constant d’une distribution hiérarchique. Ces formes retrouvées par Botta ont en commun quelque chose d’archaïque, de préhistorique, qui rassure. Son œuvre rejette la grande série, il ne travaille pas pour une élite esthéticienne et fortunée mais vise l’individu « lambda ». L’utilisation de la brique et de matériaux usuels rend le coût de ses maisons abordables et n’excède pas celui d’une maison traditionnelle.

De plus, son engouement pour les arbres est tel qu’il s’impose dans ses architectures comme un décor – qui n’existait pas dans l’architecture moderne – et non comme un lieu de promenade.
Une des œuvre la plus célèbre de Botta est la maison ronde de Stabio, 1982. Simple et très dépouillée, le cylindre qui la constitue n’emprisonne pas les éléments de la vie familiale, au contraire il défini les espaces communs et réserve des lieux clos nécessaires à chacun.

Principales réalisations
* 1967 Centre National pour la Recherche Atmosphérique de Boulder, Colorado (États-Unis)
* 1971 Maisons individuelles à Cadenazzo (1970-71), à Riva San Vitale (1971-73), à Ligornetto (1975-76), à Stabio (La Casa Rotonda, 1982), à Morbio Superiore (1984) et à Daro (1992)
* 1972-77 École à Morbio Inferiore, canton du Tessin (Suisse)
* 1987 Maison de la culture de Chambéry (France)
* 1987 Banque cantonal fribourgeoise, Fribourg (Suisse)
* 1987 Maison du Livre, de l'Image, et du Son François Mitterrand de Villeurbanne (France)
* 1988 La Banca del Gotardo, Lugano (Suisse)
* 1994 Le Musée d'art moderne de San Francisco (États-Unis)
* 1995 La Cathédrale de la Résurrection, Évry (France)
* 1996 La Chapelle Santa Maria degli Angeli, Monte Tamaro (Suisse) et le Musée Jean Tinguely de Bâle
* 1998 La Synagogue Cymbalista de l'université de Tel Aviv (Israël)
* 1999 Le Musée de la fondation Martin Bodmer, à Cologny (Suisse)
* 2000 La Chapelle in Azzano di Seravezza (Italie)
* 2000 Le Centre Dürrenmatt Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel (Suisse)
* 2004 Le Musée Leuum à Séoul (Corée du Sud)
* 2004 La Tour de Moron, Malleray (Suisse)

Modern Public Architecture

Modern architecture is all about the utopian. The solid and stolid monuments to the oppressive hierarchies of the past made way for light, clean lines and open, inviting spaces. Public spaces, in this line of reasoning, should be light as air but make themselves felt as art. Architecture is perhaps the perfect modern art because of its anonymity and seeming purity: the space exists, as it were, for itself. Of course that's not technically true.
Architecture serves a purpose, and a pretty mundane one at that. Architects design buildings for people to use-to hang art in or make banking transactions, work in or wait for trains or planes in-so there are limitations to the purity of architecture as art. Interior designs must accommodate people and their actions and motions. A good architect has to design space with a consideration for how people move through it and use it, how they congregate in it and how it makes them feel to be in it. A computer generated architectural rendering will often include a 3-D tour of the space.
Good designs work, and hopefully they're also pretty. The minimalism of modern architecture calls for the purity of a white on white space. Combined with light, slender, curvaceous modern materials and opulent curving motifs, a light airy color scheme makes a public space feel like a floating palace. Spaces where crowds can feel penned in, like stairways, should feel open, not oppressive, and facilitate movement, not hamper it.
If you are interested in architecture or interior design, we have good news: the world needs your talent. Public spaces don't just invent themselves, they need creative minds and dedicated hearts to bring them into being, and the world needs more public spaces all the time. Someday, your work of art might be a source of inspiration for the people who move through it, work in it, and pass by it every day.
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CR8MAG is an art, design & lifestyle magazine. It is created to highlight emerging artists and designers by showcasing their creative work and supporting their creative development.
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Tuscan Architecture

Tuscan architecture combines modern and classic elements that make up pure Old World Europe. The beauty of architecture Tuscan style comes from the typical custom crafted natural stone. This includes limestone, travertine and marble. Terracotta floor and roof tiles are often used to give the antique feel. In Tuscan architecture, wooden beams are often refurbished from Tuscan farmhouses.
Tuscany architecture involves fine Italian building materials that create beautiful marble fireplaces, wrought iron gates and amazing fountains.
Integrating Tuscan elements brings a sense of Old-World charm and mystique to indoor and outdoor aspects of your home.
Exterior architecture typically include:
Tile roof Wrought iron front door entrance Walls covered with vines Crumbling stone walls that outline patios and walkways Beautiful travertine cobblestone driveways Brick or stone set garden paving Tuscan Landscape : Lavender, rosemary and sage can be found surrounding a Tuscan style home. Old lemon pots and antique jars give the feel of a Tuscany garden .
Interior architecture typically include:
Walls: Plaster walls with hand painted wall treatments. Usage of warm colors that represent the rolling hills of Tuscany bring the feel of basking under the Tuscan sun! Mediterranean decor involves subtle earth tones. These are standard in French Country decorating.
Ceilings: Textured richly. Stenciled borders can be found along the ceilings. Paneled or vaulted ceilings are a typical choice in decor as it creates pure Tuscany architectural framework. Wooden or chestnut beams provide a rustic feel to the Old World style home.
Floor: Glass, stone and tile are often used to create amazing mosaic art for flooring, which works well with table tops. Terracotta tiles, marble and ceramic flooring marks true Tuscany home decor . Selection of marbles that blend nicely with your Tuscan color palette.
Tuscany architecture uses pale travertine in home flooring. Marble Chips, stucco and crushed stone are polished nicely creating terrazo floors.
Your home can be so beautiful when choosing architecture Tuscan style!
Patrice D. Walker is an Architect student who specializes in Tuscan Decorating. Visit: http://www.Tuscan-Home-101.com/tuscan_decor.html for more Tuscan interior design tips and information.
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Books - Art, Architecture and Photography

Bell Hooks once stated "Life transforming ideas have always come to me through books." There is no better rejuvenation than reading a book for anyone who has picked it up as a hobby. Books indeed fill up your mind with ideas; ideas that are sometimes vain, sometimes thought provoking and sometimes life transforming. Books for every interest group exist in this world. Be it an adventure seeking soul, a meditation lover, a die hard romantic, a photography enthusiast or a connoisseur of art. The task here is just to find that right one that is capable of satiating your thirst.
Art, architecture and photography is a popular category when it comes to the book section of various high street stores or e-shops. Various followers of art, architecture and photography are on a never-ending trail for buying books that can further enhance their knowledge in their fields of interest. Not just the self starters, the veterans in the field too are on a constant look out for such books that can give a push to their careers.
Range of recommended books falling under this category includes the likes of The Digital Photography Handbook: An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide by Doug Harman, The Botanical Palette: Colour for the Botanical Painter by Society of Botanical Artists, The Story of Art by E.H.Gombrich, Architect's Pocket Book by Charlotte Baden-Powell, Landscape Photographer of the Year: Collection 1 by Charlie Waite and Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera by Bryan Peterson.
Informational books as these not just interests the veterans in the field, but general book readers as well who have an eye for art, architecture and photography. Various portals and e-shops on the internet have special sections dedicated to these genres. Most of the bestsellers in these categories are available online. You can also avail the free home delivery benefit offered by the merchants over the World Wide Web.
Jacob Marshal, a dedicated writer of Rupizcompare.co.uk which provide Architecture & Photography with Books and Magazines as price comparison shopping.
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