Architect and Founder of Valerio Olgiati Architects
Valerio Olgiati (b. 1958) is a prominent Swiss architect known for his conceptual rigor and timeless architectural language. He studied architecture at ETH Zurich and has since developed a practice that blends abstract form with deep contextual sensitivity. Olgiati’s work spans residential, cultural, and institutional typologies and is marked by bold geometry, material precision, and spatial clarity. His notable projects include the School Building in Paspels (1998), the Yellow House Museum in Flims (1999), the Atelier Bardill in Scharans (2007), and the Villa Além in Alentejo, Portugal (2015). Internationally, he designed the UNESCO World Heritage Pearling Path Visitor Center in Muharraq, Bahrain, and the Baloise Insurance Building in Basel. Beyond practice, Olgiati is a respected academic voice, having taught at institutions including ETH Zurich and the Accademia di Architettura in Mendrisio, where he challenges conventional ideas about architecture and permanence.
