Luigi Rosselli

Luigi Rosselli is an Italian born architect who practices in Australia. Having first come to Australia to work on the New Parliament house under Romaldo Giurgola, Luigi established his company of Architects Luigi Rosselli pty ltd in 1985 and continues to create his sensitive signature buildings today.

Rosselli’s approach to architecture is “humanist, where people and environment take precedence over preconceived design dogmas” .

Timeline of Luigi Rosselli's designs from 1990-2012

Early Life and Influences

Rosselli grew up in Milano, surrounded by a vibrant cultural environment with people such as Gio Ponti, Giorgio de Chirico and Indro Montanelli in the roaring 1960s and 70s that made Milano the centre of new design and architecture. His childhood landscape consisted of a very lively and diverse architectural environment, moving between the medieval castle of Milan (Sforza Castle), the post war designs of Ernesto Rogers, the Alvar Alto inspired house designed by Hans Fritz where he spent some years of his adolescence and visits to buildings by Vico Magistretti, Caccia Dominioni, Giuseppe Terragni and Gio Ponti. He learnt from his surrounds to appreciate the pluralism and the coexistence of architecture of all ages and styles.

In Lausanne he studied at the Ecole Politechnique Federale (EPFL) a well-resourced university that managed to attract all the top architect of the time as guest professors – from Kenneth Frampton to Rafael Moneo and Alvaro Siza, with Umberto Riva being Luigi’s thesis mentor.

A few years of his training were spent in the practice of Mario Botta (1979) in Switzerland and under Romaldo Giurgola in his Mitchell Giurgola office in New York (1980). He then moved with the firm to Canberra where he contributed to the design of the Parliament House. Three different experiences that taught him how to have a holistic approach to design (from Spoon to City) in the case of Mario Botta, a humanist approach with Giurgola and the role of democracy in architecture in the case of Giurgola and Thorp in Canberra.

After receiving a Master of Architecture (1984) in Lausanne (First Prize SIA) with a thesis on Eclecticism and a project for a Hotel on the Simpton Pass, Luigi went back to Australia where he opened his own practice in 1985. The practice started as a one man show and has grown slowly over the years to a maximum team of 16. It has formed over the years a local reputation of well managed projects, good design and discretion that has attracted the most successful Australians to commission houses and other buildings.

See a video interview of one of Luigi Rosselli pty ltd most recent works on Domain TV. http://media.domain.com.au/property/amazing-homes/inspired-mix-of-old-and-new-2553874.html

Selected commercial projects

• 1986 Leo Schofield's offices fitout
• 1988 Frank Moore Shop fit-out, San Francisco, USA
• 1989 Kerry McGee Fashion Warehouse, Office and Manufacturing premises, Alexandria
• 1991 Barrister's Chambers office fit-out, Phillip St, Sydney
• 1992 UNSW Boardroom fit-out, Sydney
• 1993 Cicada Restaurant, Challis Avenue, Potts Point
• 1993 Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank fit-outs in Brookvale, Fairfield, Leichhardt, Sydney
• 1995 Nanostructure Laboratory UNSW
• 1996 La Mensa Cafe, The Australian Centre for Photography, Paddington
• 1996 Verona Cafe, Verona Cinema, Darlinghurst
• 1996 Edward Meller, Collins Street, Melbourne
• 1996 Bel Mondo Restaurant, Argyle Department Store, The Rocks
• 1998 Newsbar, Cantinetta, Grace, Bittersweet Restaurants and Cafes Myers Grace Bros, Sydney City
• 1999 Vault Restaurant & Bar in George Street, The Rocks
• 1999 Office building refurbishment at 107 Pitt Street, Sydney
• 2000 Good Manors Landscaping, new office building, Rozelle
• 2000 Loft Café, University of Technology, Sydney
• 2001 Federation Fountain, University of Technology, Haymarket
• 2001 Art Gallery of NSW Café and Restaurants, Sydney
• 2004 Giallo, Shop fit outs, Paddington, Melbourne Central, Brisbane
• 2005 Casella Winery, Griffith, Winning competition design with Tanner Architects
• 2006 Edward Meller Collins Street, Melbourne
• 2008 Renovation and alteration to commercial premises Surry Hills
• 2009 UTS Marketing Offices
• 2011 BALLA Restaurant - Star City for Manfredi Enterprises
• 2012 Freemantle Administrative Building

Selected residential projects

• 1990 INXS musician's house in Cammeray
• 1990 INXS musician's house in Cottage Point
• 1995 Watermark Apartments Manly
• 1995 Geoff McMullen's house in Palm Beach
• 1996 New house at Coal Point
• 1997 Vogliotti residence in Point Piper
• 1998 Apartment interiors, McMahons Point
• 1998 Peter Doyle's house in Northbridge
• 1999 O'Connell Street Penthouses in Sydney
• 2000 Waterfront residence in Parriwi Road, Mosman
• 2000 Alterations to heritage listed house at Lavender Bay
• 2000 Phillip Clark's house in Tamarama
• 2000 Aisbitt residence in Point Piper
• 2001 Kate McClymont & Grahame Brosnan house in Woollahra
• 2001 Gregan house in Mosman
• 2004 Gunn residence at Mosman
• 2004 Walton residence in Vaucluse
• 2005 Holmes á Court country house, Mittagong
• 2005 Holmes á Court residence in Centennial Park
• 2005 Mt Minderoo, country house Mittagong
• 2007 Negus Residence Point Piper
• 2007 Williams Residence, Bradleys Head Road, Mosman
• 2008 Alterations to a Leslie Wilkinson House in Double Bay
• 2009 Gonsky Residence alterations, Point Piper
• 2010 Kiribilli House (http://www.archdaily.com/171550/elamang-avenue-luigi-rosselli/)
• 2011 Benelong Apartments
• 2012 Minderoo Station, Pilbara
• 2012 Buch residence, Gordon's Bay
• 2012 Rankin Residence, Woollahra

Awards

• 1985 Exhibited in Venice Biennale (see catalogue of "Terza Mostra Di Architecttura") with a bridge on the grand canal of Venice
• 1990 Won 4th prize in the international competition for the "Square of the Swiss Living Abroad" in Brunnen, Switzerland
• 1992 Awarded the Sydney Morning Herald Architecture Award for the Hawkesbury River House
• 1996 Won 3rd prize in RAIA competition for "Mary Mc Killop Interpretive Centre"
• 2004 Awarded Domain/RAIA People's Choice Award for Mosman house
• 2004 Awarded RAIA Commendation for Outstanding Architectural Work for Mosman house
• 2004 Shortlisted for IDAA 2004 Award for Hospitality Interior Design
• 2004 Shortlisted for IDAA 2004 Award for Public or Institutional Interior Design
• 2004 Shortlisted for IDAA 2004 Award for Retail Interior Design
• 2006 Awarded RAIA Wilkinson Award Outstanding Residential Architecture Single Housing
• 2006 Awarded People's Choice Award – B H & G
• 2006 Runner-up National Robin Boyd finalists
• 2007 Mosman Good Design Awards 2007
• 2008 Waverley Council Civic Pride Awards Heritage & Design 2008
• 2009 Mosman Council Heritage Conservation Design Awards – Commendation for Bradleys Head house
• 2009 Australian Institute of Architects Heritage Architecture Award June 2009 for Wiston Gardens house
• 2009 Waverley Council Civic Pride Awards Heritage & Design 2009 Contemporary Design Category
• 2009 National Trust Energy Australia Heritage Awards - Highly Commended Adaptive Re-use – Individuals
• 2011 Mosman Design Awards – Residential Adaptive Re-Use Winner
• 2011 Mosman Design Awards - Streetscape Contribution and Sustainability - Commendation
• 2011 Waverley Council Civic Pride Award Recognising and Promoting Heritage Conservation and Outstanding Contemporary Design
• 2011 Australian Institute of Architects – the Milo Dunphy Award for Sustainable Architecture for Kirribilli house

Publications

• Ambiente (German magazine), December 1993
• Andrew Metcalf, Thinking Architecture, RAIA, 1995, pp. 76–80
• Architecture Australia, August 1990, p. 36
• Architecture Australia, August 1991, p. 34 and cover
• Architecture Australia, May/June 1996, pp. 76–81
• Architectural Review, Winter 1996, pp. 110–114
• Australian Financial Review, 15–17 April 2005, p. L18
• Australian Gourmet Traveller, January 1999, pp. 104–108
• Australian Home & Architectural Trends, Vol 20 No 16, p. 109
• Australian Style No 21, 1997, pp. 112–115
• Belle, February/March 1996, supplement, pp. 16–17, 54–55
• Belle, April/May 1998, pp. 74–79
• Belle, June/July 1999, pp. 60–61
• Belle, June/July 2000, pp. 94–99
• Belle Corporate and Office Design, Spring/Summer 1994/5, p. 25
• Belle Corporate and Office Design, Autumn/Winter 1997, pp. 36–39
• Belle Design and Decoration, March 1994, p. 24
• Belle Design and Decoration, October/November 1994, p. 84
• Belle Kitchen and Bathroom Yearbook, 1998, p. 12
• Belle Kitchen and Bathroom Yearbook, 1999, pp. 60–61
• Belle Kitchen and Bathroom Yearbook, 2000, pp. 30–31, 56–57, 64–65
• Contemporary Home Design, Issue 3.3, pp. 60–65
• Davina Jackson, 40 Up, RAIA, 1998, p. 50
• Davina Jackson and Chris Johnson, Australian Architecture Now 2000, Thames & Hudson, pp. 12, 31, 76
• Elizabeth Wilhide, The Flooring Book,
• Encyclopedia of Australian Architecture, Cambridge University Press, 2011: http://architectureau.com/articles/encyclopedia-of-australian-architecture-launched/#img=0
• Ryland, Peter & Small, London, 1997 pp13, 21, 36
• Francoise Fromonot, Sydney, History of a Landscape, Vilo Publishing, Paris 2000
• Graham Jahn, A Guide to Sydney Architecture, Waterman Press, Sydney, 1997, p. 197
• Hauser 3/99, Hamburg, Germany. pp. 36–40
• Houses, Issue 44, pp. 87–97
• House and Garden, December 1999, pp. 122–123
• House and Garden, December 2000, p. 74
• House and Garden, April 2001, pp. 90–95
• House and Garden, May 2001, p. 52
• Indesign, Issue No 15, pp. 160–167
• Indesign Issue No 24 p. 36
• Infinity Pools, Ana G Cañizares, Collins Design 2006 pp. 130–131
• Inside (Interior Review) No 3, 1997, pp. 56–61
• Inside No 3, pp. 53–61
• Inside No 11, pp. 88–89
• Inside No 14, pp. 40–43
• Interior Architecture, Moscow, Russia Issue No 33, p. 102
• Interior Digest, No 8 2003, pp. 58–67
• John Gollings and George Michell, New Australia Style,
• Thames & Hudson, 1999, pp. 186–189
• Luxury Home Design Vol 2 No 2, pp. 62–65
• Outdoor Space, No 1 2005, pp. 52–55
• Stefano Manfredi, Belmondo, Hodder, Sydney 2000
• Sydney Morning Herald Domain, 9 Sep 2004, cover and pp. 6–7
• The Architecture Bulletin, October 1996, p. 12
• The Architecture Bulletin, December 1998, pp. 10, 11 and cover
• The Australian Design Series, Contemporary Decorating, 1988–89 p
• The Australian Design Series, Contemporary Decorating, 1989 edition 108
• The Australian Design Series, Corporate and Office Design, Spring 1992 p. 28
• The Australian Design Series, Corporate and Office Design, Autumn 1992, p72
• Ville and Giardini, October 1999, pp. 1–11
• Vogue Living Australia No 5, 1988, p. 148
• Vogue Living Australia, August 1991
• Vogue Living Australia, March 1992
• Vogue Living Australia No 5, October/November 1993, pp. 56 and 66
• Vogue Living Australia, October/November 1994, cover and p. 92
• Vogue Living, October/November 1999, p. 166
• Vogue Entertaining and Travel April 1999, pp. 48–49
• Vogue Living, Aug/Sep 2003 pp. 179–180
• Vogue Living, Jan/Feb 2004 pp. 148–150
• Sydney Morning Herald Domain 29 June 2006 Cover & pp. 8,9,10,11
• Sydney Morning Herald 9 September 2006
• Sydney Morning Herald Domain East 13 September 2006
• Indesign Volume 47 November 2006 pp. 154–161
• Infinity Pools 2006 pp. 131–133
• Wallpaper January 2007 pp. 80–81
• Sydney Morning Herald Essential 25 January 2007, pp. 28–29
• Daily Telegraph Home, 18 August 2007, Cover, pp. 18–19
• Inside Out November–December 2007 pp. 92–100
• Sydney Morning Herald Essential 31 January 2008 pp. 22, 23
• Pool Design Daab 2008 pp. 208–225
• Stephen Crafti A Place In The Country Craftsman House 2008 pp. 214–219
• The Sydney Magazine, SMH 8 August pp. 40, 41, 42
• Vogue Living Australia, September/October 2008, pp. 166–173
• Sydney Morning Herald Essential Magazine 16 October 2008, pp. 16, 17
• Stephen Crafti Contemporary Beach Houses Down Under Images Publishing 2008 pp. 238–243
• Stephen Crafti Courtyards For Modern Living Images Publishing 2008 pp. 79–81
• Vogue Living Australia, September/October 2008; 166-173
• Vogue Living Australia March/April 2009; 170
• Vogue Living Before + After, 2010, Special Edition Autumn/Winter 2010;46-53
• Voitutti – Italian life in Australia Issue 15 pp 40–43 Italian Chamber of Commerce 2010
• 21st Century Kitchens, Images Publishing, October, 2010; 124-125
• After Images, Sydney Architecture Festival, Ross Anderson, October 2011; 70
• Modern Lux Housing, Sandu Publishing house, August 2012; 157
• Innovative restaurant interiors, Sandu Publishing, October 2012, p132-133 & p144-147

External links

• Company Website
• Dedece publications
• Sydney Morning Herald article
• Australian Institute of architects
• AA Interview with Luigi Rosselli
• Osteria BALLA Manfredi on ArchDaily
• Osteria BALLA Manfredi on Australian Design Review
• Osteria BALLA Manfredi on Scenologist
• Elamang Avenue on ArchDaily
• Australian Design Review Profile
• Indesignlive Interview