Massimo Mariani, architect and designer, was born in 1951 in Pistoia. He graduated in 1977 from the Faculty of Architecture in Florence, where he taught (1980-1992) as Assistant Professor of the Design course chaired by Prof. Remo Buti. In 1980, he co-founded with Alberto Casciani “Stilema”, the practice specialised in product, furniture and interior design. In 1986, along with a group of architects, he founded the Bolidismo movement. Since 1980, the Mariani studio has been based in Montecatini Terme and specialising in architecture and interior design. Over the years, Mariani has gained experience in all sectors: from private houses – including that of Monsummano Terme (1989-90), Benigni House in Buggiano (1995-98), the Collector’s House in Florence (2009-10) and the Stefano House in Empoli (2009) – to specialised buildings such as the Benozzo Gozzoli Museum in Castelfiorentino (2009) and the Primary School and Public Library in Ponte Buggianese (2010). Since the 90s, he has also designed a number of
banks and business premises in Tuscany (Fornacette Coop Bank, Cambiano Coop Bank and Cabel). He recently completed the extension of the Ponte Buggianese Cemetery, while the expansion of the ‘Fort’ in Donoratico (headquarters of the Castagneto Carducci Coop Bank), the new headquarters of the Cambiano Castelfiorentino Coop Bank and some other office buildings in Tuscany are still under construction. Some projects have received major awards such as: “Inventing the cover of Modo”, 1979; “The most beautiful
house in the world”, 1988; “The Dedalo Prize”, 1999; – US Award 2009; “Florence Architecture Award/‘14”. As far as design is concerned, he has worked with many well known brands such as Alessi-Tendentse, Stilema, Meccani, Arredaesse, Limonta and
Unitalia. In 2005, Verbavolant published Massimo Mariani Projects 1980-2005; in 2015 Altralinea published Holistic Bank Design, a book about the new headquarters of the Bank of Pisa, in the same year, still for Altralinea, is published “Massimo Mariani – Works 2005-2015”.
The work of Massimo Mariani moves on a hybrid line, made of contamination and disciplinary intertwining, aimed at overcoming the limit of specialization. The design philosophy of the study can be summarized as follows:
"IRONIA, COLOR, HEART, ... LOVE".
