Mario Cucinella: The Technological Heir of Renzo Piano

Mario Cucinella, an Italian architect, is profiled in the context of his complex relationship with Renzo Piano. In 2014, Piano appointed Cucinella, Massimo Alvisi, and Michele Milan as tutors for the G124 laboratory on urban peripheries, despite rumors of tension between Piano and Cucinella. Cucinella's work, such as the Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies in Ningbo and the Guzzini building, emphasizes technology and sustainability, contrasting with the High Touch style preferred in Italy. His controversial "Gocce" installation in Bologna was dismantled due to public protest. Cucinella is more acclaimed abroad, especially in the Anglophone world, than in Italy, where he is seen as a naive technocrat. The article argues that Cucinella's true legacy lies in his method of using technology for survival and resource management, potentially surpassing Piano's High Touch approach.