As a highly respected architect, Botta's success did not happen overnight. After dropping out of school, he worked as a cartographer in the studios of Luigi Camenisch and Tita Carloni for three years before he slowly improved his aesthetic and artistic abilities. Botta emphasizes the territoriality and sanctity of architecture, paying more attention to the historical existence that is easily overlooked than to the exploration of the future. Perhaps it is precisely because of the fiery love for architecture that these great works were born.
-01-
Petra
Piombino, Italy
In the heart of a large vineyard overlooking Piombino, the Petra winery, designed by Botta, defines the overall image of the wine brand. It is said that a good wine should start from its vineyard, and this sculptural beauty is the best place to interpret the brand's connotation.
The spatial structure of The Petra Winery has the characteristics of traditional Italian architecture, with a stretched "barchesse" structure on both sides of the central cylinder, and the upward steps are dotted with seasonal vegetation, inviting consumers to climb to the roof to enjoy the view of the entire vineyard. (Barchesse refers to the one-sided porch structure commonly found in Italian architecture)
-02-
Tschuggen Mountain Oasis
Alosa, Switzerland
Arosa is a small town in eastern Switzerland that has become a winter destination in recent years due to its location at the bottom of the basin, abundant sunshine and winds. Berg Oase is a "non-architectural building", the main space of the hotel is located below the vegetation cladding, and nine large skylights of titanium and zinc glass form the part above the greenery.
The four-storey interior space is like a terrace that extends downwards, and this spatial layout not only minimizes the impact on the environment, but also ensures that each skylight has sufficient lighting and does not interfere with each other. The hotel's outdoor activities area includes a sauna, sunbathing and swimming pool, and visitors can enjoy the views of the Alpine mountains on the large terrace that meets nature.
-03-
Garnet Chapel
Mayrhofen, Austria
The diminutive church sits on top of a hill at an altitude of 2,087 meters above sea level and overlooks the entire Zillertal Valley to the north, but the interior of the building does not provide room for viewing, but rather, the enclosed environment is designed to insulate oneself from the distractions of information and face God and one's own heart.
Inspired by the eponymous garnet of the same name, the natural mineral form of botta reminds Botta of the diamond-shaped dodecahedron, and the exterior shape of the church was born. The walls of the interior resemble cut crystals, interlocked to form a uniform structure, and Botta uses wooden planks made of larch to create a warm and safe space for those who stay here.
-04-
Bechtler Museum
Charlotte, USA
The Bechtler Museum, botta's art museum designed for Andreas Bechtlers in 2009, is used to exhibit a collection of artworks acquired by the collector. The main body of the building is a hollow cube, the hollow space facing the road provides visitors with an outdoor resting place, and a huge single column is erected in the center of the square, breaking the cold feeling brought by squares and straight lines, and strengthening the use of sculptural art in architecture.
Botta's most classic skylight system is also shown in the BechtlerMuseum, the curved wall on the top of the exhibition area with the spaced skylight, so that soft natural light reaches every corner of the building, coupled with artificial lighting system, to provide superior exhibition conditions for the exhibits.