The Practice, based in Bologna, employs a team of architects and engineers from many countries around the world and has a solid experience in architectural design, with particular attention to energy and environmental issues, industrial design and technological research. Collaborations with several universities and research programs of the European Commission are most active. The founder, in 1999, is Mario Cucinella. Born in Italy in 1960, he graduated in Genoa with Giancarlo De Carlo in 1986. From 1987 to 1992 he worked in Renzo Piano's studio in Genoa and Paris, as project manager. He is now amongst the most influential architects practicing in Europe, with multiple award-winning international design projects. Not only his work is lauded for design excellence, but he is an undisputed leader in sustainable practices.
Among his most significant achievements: the Sino Italian Ecological Building (SIEEB) in Beijing, the new headquarters of the Municipality of Bologna, the Center for Sustainable Energy Technologies (CSET) in Ningbo, 3M headquarters and Unipol headquarters in Milan and the Kuwait City School, in Gaza, developed in partnership with UNRWA (the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian and Middle Eastern Refugees and Refugees).
