Architect

Claudio Silvestrin

City of London, United Kingdom

With extensive experience as a lecturer and visiting professor, Claudio Silvestrin was appointed Walton Critic in 2013 and tutored at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC. He is a person with vision, both vast and minute. His creativity is never delegated, as his artistic supervision is total. He advocates for difference over uniformity, quality over quantity, and prefers a few well-executed projects over many. His motto is: "I do not get out of bed unless I am going to create something exceptionally beautiful." He established his firm in 1989 with offices in London and, since 2006, also in Milan. The work of the studio encompasses real estate developments, resorts, international airport terminals, newly built houses for private residences, art galleries and museums, restaurants, luxury retail stores, and furniture design. Among his clients are Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Giada, Anish Kapoor, Victoria Miro, Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, YTL Singapore, Illy Coffee, Princi, Rainer Becker of Zuma, and the acclaimed hip hop artist and producer Kanye West. His working principle can be summarized in the creation of a sense of calm, places where one can feel serene, at peace, free from disorder and vulgarity. He desires to create a sense of time standing still and design architecture that leaves us silent, inspired by ancient spiritual architecture. Simple yet elegant. Through his projects, he follows the footsteps of the divine spirit manifested in nature, choosing natural over artificial materials, like Mother Nature. He has learned from the great Italian Masters of the Renaissance, such as Leonardo and Michelangelo, as well as Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Brunelleschi, and Palladio.