Since I was a child I've always loved to draw. Later I chose an artistic high school where I've had the chance to develop my skills in different artistic disciplines such as sculpture, painting, graphic design, packaging and technical design. After the high school it was clear for me that I wanted to become an architect but I've never lost my love for hand drawing and design in general so I like to consider my self as and architect with the passion of design.
Ragazzi and Partners is an associate architectural firm founded in 2003 by my father Giancarlo Ragazzi and myself. Giancarlo Ragazzi, in over 40 years of professional activity (from 1964 to 2003) together with Edilnord Progetti S.p.A., developed a great number of important projects such as the refurbishment of San Siro Stadium in Milan on the occasion of 1990 F.I.F.A. Football World Cup (winner of "Ingersoll-Rand" award), mixed-use residential complex as Milano 2, Milano 3, Milano Visconti and Malaspina and Mediaset TV broadcasting Center and tower.
After my degree at Politecnico di Milano University of Architecture, I went to London where I gained various experiences at very important architectural practies namely Foster and Partners and Burland TM where I worked in particular on large-scale mixed-use development, stadia and residential buildings such as Milano Santa Giulia (Foster and Partners), Hong Kong West Kowloon Masterplan (Foster and Partners), London Herlequins Rugby Stadium (Burland TM) and London Falcon Wharf residential building (Burland TM).
Since 2003 Ragazzi and Partners's projects cover a wide range of areas such as:
large scale mixed-use developments
stadiums and sport and leisure centers
renovation of historical buildings
interior and product design
As I said before design for me is passion. I like my primary job as an architect which is, in a way, a creative job but it has to deal with lots of rules and regulations. Design for me is freedom.
Thanks to my professional experiences, I have had the fortune to be involved in the design process of a wide range of works from large scale developments, to single buildings, interior spaces and industrial products.
Each kind of work is unique and spacial.
One of my favorite product design is the "Eclisse" lamp designed by Vico Magistretti. I also like very much many of the Achille Castiglioni's works, because they are able to summerize the essence of great design; these works infact became a design masterpieces with the power of their simplicity.
Creativity is the essence for every artist and designer. What happens to me is that sometimes, no metter how hard I try to think of a new idea for a product I can't find the right approach. Other days I just feel very inspired and then, out of a sudden, the design easily flows as the idea has always been there in my mind.
It's a fantastic feeling, because it's the realization of a long and sometimes difficult design process that has started from my concept idea or inspiration.
Eclisse lamp by Vico Magistretti for Artemide
Toio lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos
Tolomeo lamp by Michele De Lucchi for Artemide
Fly lamp by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell
Cultery set by Jesper Morrison for Alessi
When I am working on a new concept design I always develop the ideas on a sketch book most of the time with a pencil or a black marker pen. After the first concept I develop the ideas with different graphic softwares like sketchup, autocad, rhino, 3dmax and photoshop, with the support of the team of my studio Ragazzi and Partners.
After my degree at Politecnico di Milano I've had the fortune to work in London and develop my skills in some architectural firms, but for sure the most important job experience was the one with Lord Norman Foster.
As I said before product design is not the core business of my studio which is more orientated in urban planning and architecture, but due to the results of my first works in my future plans I would like to increase and develop this sector maybe creating a specific team for product design in my studio.
At the moment our studio Ragazzi and Partners is carring out the design of a sustainable new quarter for 3000 people near Milan which is intended to be the first LEED certified quarter in Italy. For the product design sector at the moment I am designing a new chair for stadiums for an important italian furniture company.