The Architects Series: Matteo Thun & Partners is the 35th instalment of the series produced by The Plan Magazine in collaboration with Iris Ceramica Group dedicated to the most interesting and best-known practices operating in Italian and international architecture. This episode looks at Matteo Thun & Partners, a studio founded by Matteo Thun in 1984 that, with its iconic architectural projects and design excellence, has gained an international reputation through an approach that combines tradition, innovation, and sustainability.
The episode will premiere at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. It will be followed by the roundtable discussion “Simplicity is the New Luxury: Rediscovering the Essential as the Key to Success”.
Founded in 1984 by Matteo Thun and with offices in Milan and Munich, Matteo Thun & Partners has always distinguished itself for its responsible and holistic design approach, creating architectural projects, designer goods, and iconic brands for an international clientele. The studio’s work is deeply rooted in respect for the genius loci, the spirit of place, this guiding every project and giving it a unique identity in its integration with its context.
The concept of botanical architecture is a key part of the studio’s design strategy as it seeks to achieve a constant balance between nature, interior design, and architecture. By using natural materials, such as stone and wood, and focusing on both indoor and outdoor green areas, the studio doesn’t just bring nature into its designs, but allows it to develop naturally and with respect for its rhythms and forms.
The innovative Three Zeroes philosophy – Zero Kilometers, Zero CO2, Zero Waste – underpins Matteo Thun & Partners approach to architecture, taking form in the use of local materials to reduce transport, efficient energy management to reduce CO2 emissions, and a building lifecycle management policy that focuses on recycling. These principles not only promote sustainability, but also aim for regeneration, offering an alternative to the complexity of current sustainability certifications.
Another distinctive element of the studio’s work is the importance it gives to the tactile and sensorial aspects of the spaces it designs. “HiTouch + Sensoriality” involves a preference for organic materials since they can speak to all the senses, imparting beauty, intimacy, and sensoriality without sacrificing functionality.
The studio is also committed to promoting healthy lifestyles through quality architecture and design – a model it defines as “healthy living.” Every project aims to provide physical and mental well-being, thereby allowing balanced relationships between humans and the environment to develop.
With a team of 80 architects and designers, Matteo Thun & Partners is involved in every sector, from residential to hotels and restaurants, hospitals and clinics, workspaces, and offices. Its refined compositional approach aims at simplification to create timeless, durable, sustainable, and elegant architecture.
