Mercurio Design Lab

Book excerpt: Formed in 2008, Mercurio Design Lab (MDL) masterfully manages to express its design potential. Lead by Massimo, a rare architectural polymath who is motivated by a strong spirit of innovation, philosophy and experimentation, MDL seeks to elevate and balance the synergies of the Asian architectural context with indomitable Italian style and tradition. MDL considers its projects as artistic masterpieces and makes a special contribution to the architectural scene of the city through the creation of dramatic and futuristic buildings, always respecting three fundamental criteria: the functional, the aesthetic and the social. This richly illustrated monograph is a comprehensive review of MDL's exceptional artistry and diversity and it's another icon for IMAGES' Master Architect series, an absolute must for all collectors of beautiful books on sophisticated global architectural culture. Massimo Mercurio hails from Rome, where seeing soul-stirring art, grand fountains, and centuries-old palaces are a daily occurrence. For an architect's son, who lived this routine for over two decades, a visit to the high-octane Asia - with its glittering skyline and vibrant melting pot - would become a life-changing moment that made him realise the vast potentials of Italian design beyond Italy. At the age of 24, Massimo experienced life in the region where he eventually settled. For close to three decades and while working within the Southeast Asia regional context, Massimo gathered his experiences in design, construction, architecture and project management and melded these with his interests in art, with focuses on both the theoretical and practical fronts.