(Robin Monotti (6th from left) and colleague Fannar Haraldsson (8th from left) accompanied by Ukrainian dancers outside their shortlisted project)
View our shortlist here: www.design-et-al.co.uk
To enquire about entering our awards please email: awards@design-et-al.co.uk
To read about Robin Monotti’s Yacht House short-listing, click here.
Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
I was born in Rome and I fell in love with the city and chose to become an architect. I then moved to England at 17 and studied architecture at the University of Bath, London Metropolitan University, where I also taught a Diploma Unit between 2001-2007, UCL and the Architectural Association where I gained a Masters in History and Theory of Architecture. Before setting up Robin Monotti Architects in London in 2007 I had worked in architecture offices in both Rome and Milan.
Fannar Haraldsson joined the office in 2009 and we worked on Yacht House together.
How would you describe your personal interior design style?
Essential
Where does your design inspiration come from?
Life and Nature
In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
Two opposing trends: the computerised neo-baroque, and the neo-Modernist.
Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2013 and beyond.
Culture, Materiality, Space, Imagination, Nature. Not necessarily in that order
If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to interior design schemes, what would it be?
To be in tune with the architecture and the spaces of buildings rather than working against them, provided they have something to offer of course.
How important are The International Design and Architecture Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
It’s our first year of being shortlisted so we are looking forward to finding this out!
What projects are you currently working on?
A penthouse apartment in Ukraine and one in London where we also have other residential projects, and a technical college in Iceland.
What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
To enter many competitions with interesting projects, and to win!
Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself
Your most treasured possession? Health
Your favourite holiday destination? The Maldives
Your favourite hotel / restaurant / bar? Conrad Rangali Maldives/ Casina Valadier in Rome/ Electric House in London
Your favourite book / film / song? Woman Like Me by Malaparte/ Le Mepris by Godard/ Pink Floyd’s Echoes
Your favourite food and drink? White truffle and red wine. Add something green and you get my national flag.
Your favourite way to spend an afternoon? (in no more than 25 words) Playing with my wife and children on the beach
If you weren’t a designer, what would you be? A writer
Anything else interesting?
Prior to setting up Robin Monotti Architects in 2007 I translated and published the first and only English language edition of Italian author Curzio Malaparte’s book of magical realist short stories “Woman Like Me”
To view more of Robin Monotti Architects work, please visit: http://www.robinmonotti.com/