Drawing Fire

A passion for ink rendering set architect Luigi Rosselli on a trajectory to building success.

- Karen Mccartney

I INTERVIEW MILAN-BORN, Swiss-educated architect Luigi Rosselli in a beehive, or rather The Beehive – his Surry Hills’ studio in Sydney. Its honeycomb facade was a joint effort with his architect son Raffaello, who is also interested in sustainability and re-use. “We were exploring different materials when I suggested using terracotta roof tiles discarded from a client’s house,” says Luigi. The resulting pattern is mesmeric, with the elemental warmth of the irregular tiles adding a rustic informality to what is a highly calibrated design practice. This duality runs through his approach. His hand drawings of buildings tend to be loose and lyrical but also capture the essence of the finished scheme. He values a sustainable approach while being sought after by A-list clients, and he has a distinct architectural language that still allows for the collaborative input of others.

His studies at École Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne included high-level internships, such as a stint with Mario Botta on his Fribourg State Bank project in Switzerland, then in New York with Aldo Giurgola, known for his winning design for Parliament House in Canberra. Luigi was dubbed ‘chief inker’ for his skill in ink drawing – a requirement for the design entry none of his US colleagues could do. Such is the minutiae on which careers pivot. His stay in Canberra gave him a taste for Australian life. “We were involved in the most important project in the city but every weekend we’d do something different – skiing or visiting Sydney,” he says.