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ARCHITECT SPOTLIGHT: RUDY RICCIOTTI
A feisty French architect that advocates the importance of local artisans
No one can say that Rudy Ricciotti is lacking in principle or resolve. One only has to watch an interview with him to understand the extent of his character. The Algerian-born architect studied engineering in Geneva before returning to his Mediterranean roots to study architecture in Marseille and investing himself in the region. As an ardent defender of local traditions and local craftsmanship, he purposefully established his practice in Bandol, France, rather than in the country’s capital, in order to champion that which he sees as the true pillar of architecture.
In fact, his work consistently highlights the importance of using local materials, local craftsmen and local manufacturers from a practical, economic and even aesthetic standpoint. For the recently completed MuCEM, Ricciotti shared that the vast majority of materials and labor was recruited from within a radius of 100 kilometers. The scope of his work, however, remains international with implication in projects all over Europe.
For his contributions to architecture, Ricciotti has won some of the most prestigious prizes in architecture over the course of his career, including the Grand Prix National d’Architecture, the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and the Médaille d’Or de la Fondation de l’Académie d’Architecture.
