About us
With offices in Milan and New York, Lissoni & Partners has a thirty-year history in developing international projects in the fields of architecture, landscape, interior, product and graphic design, in addition to being responsible for the art direction for some of the most influential design companies.
Led by Piero Lissoni, the practice combines a range of expertise with a tailored approach that sets it apart, establishing a stylistic code and a visual identity that are clearly and instantly recognizable.
The practice’s work is inspired by a sense of rigor and simplicity and is characterized by a regard to detail, coherence and elegance with particular attention to proportion and harmony.
Piero Lissoni is creative director for Alpi, B&B Italia, Boffi, Living Divani, Lema, Lualdi, Porro and Sanlorenzo for whom he also designs an extensive range of products. Recognized as one of the masters of contemporary design, he has worked with many international brands including Alessi, Antrax, Atlas Concorde, B&B Italia, Bonacina1889, Cappellini, Cassina, Cotto, De Padova, Fantini, Flos, Glas Italia, Golran, Illy, Janus et Cie, Kartell, Kerakoll, KN Industrie, Knoll, Nerosicilia, Olivari, Salvatori, Tecno, Viccarbe.
Masterplans, architecture and landscape design.
Interior design, product design, art direction and fit-outs.
Graphic design, visual communication and brand identity.
Interior design projects throughout the Americas.
Partners
- Piero Lissoni
Founder and Design Principal
Piero Lissoni is architect, art director and designer and is recognized as one of the masters of contemporary design.
For over thirty years, he has developed projects the world over in the fields of architecture, landscape and interior, as well as in product and graphic design. He is also art director for Alpi, B&B Italia, Boffi, Living Divani, Lema, Lualdi, Porro and Sanlorenzo.
Piero Lissoni has received a series of international awards, including the Good Design Award, the Red Dot Award and the Compasso d'Oro ADI.- Miguel Casal Ribeiro
Project Architect
Miguel Casal Ribeiro graduated from Lisbon University’s Faculty of Architecture in 2002, and while studying for his degree he also collaborated with the Lisbon architect Joao Luis Carrilho da Graça in the period from 1999 to 2001. Since joining Lissoni Associati in 2003, he has been involved in the design and construction of numerous architectural projects worldwide, as well as various international design competitions.
By way of example, Miguel Casal Ribeiro has coordinated the design and supervised the construction of The Mandarin Hotel & Resort in Dellis Cay, a private Villa in Forte dei Marmi, a residential building in Geneva, The Oberoi Beach Hotel & Resort in Al Zorah Ajman, together with the restoration and renovation of the Sanlorenzo headquarters in La Spezia.
He was made partner of the company in 2013 and has been the coordinator of the Architectural department since 2015. He became principal partner of Lissoni Casal Ribeiro Spa in 2019.
With a portfolio of architectural projects that continues to expand rapidly and with Miguel’s direct involvement in every aspect of the design process, the Studio is currently developing three large scale mixed-use developments (hospitality, residential and office) in Budapest, a large high-end hotel project in Beijing, a Hotel & Private Residences Resort in Jesolo, Italy, Private Villas in Switzerland, China, Italy, USA, UAE and India, and is also engaged in transforming a historical building in Milan into a hotel.
- Massimo Lissoni
Project Manager
After studying Business and Economics, Massimo Lissoni began working with his brother Piero with whom he coordinates the work of Graphx, a graphics design studio specialized in art direction, the development of corporate identities, photographic and video productions, publicity campaigns, packaging, websites, the creation of social networking content, and branding in the field of hospitality including signage and staff attire.
Clients of Graphx include Alpi, Boffi, Cassina, De Padova, Fantini, Glas Italia, Kerakoll, Knoll, Lema, Living Divani, Lualdi, Nespresso, P&G, Porro, Sanlorenzo, Unilever, Piazza Sempione, Wella.
Some recent projects of the studio have included the design of the staff uniforms for the Grand Park Hotel Rovinji in collaboration with the stylist Carlos Baker, the logo and corporate identity for the residential project Roza Rossa (Moscow), the infographics for The Oberoi Beach Resort (Al Zorah, Ajman), the coordinated image for Casa Fantini (Orta Lake) and the corporate identity of Sanlorenzo Yachts, comprising the shipyard graphics, catalogues, invitations and promotional material.
In the field of culture, Graphx designed the catalogue of the Faces/Voices exhibition dedicated to Fernanda Pivano and Ettore Sottsass, the catalogue for the retrospective of the photographer Giovanni Gastel, curated by Germano Celant, the catalogue for the Tiziano Richter exhibition and the new logo for the Spazio Te at Palazzo Te in Mantua. In the period from 2007 to 2016, Graphx was also responsible for curating the corporate identity of the Venice International Film Festival.- Mitla Morato
Project Manager
Originating from Sao Paolo in Brazil, Mitla Morato obtained her degree in Architecture from the University of Sao Paulo in 1999. The following year she moved to Milan, gaining an MA in Design validated by the University of Wales from the Domus Academy. In 2008 she attended a Course of Specialization in Project Management at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. She has been a member of the Architectural Association of Sao Paulo since 2000 and of the Surveyors’ Association of Milan since 2016.
She began working with Lissoni in 2001, initially as Architect and Interior Designer, participating in numerous projects such as fair stands, private apartments, offices, showrooms, hotels and resorts, both in Italy and abroad.
In 2008, she became Project Manager of the Architecture Department, responsible for client acquisitions, negotiations, contracts, team allocation, project monitoring and cost management.
She was appointed Partner and Board Member of Lissoni Casal Ribeiro Spa in 2013.- Samuel Lorenzi
Project Architect
Samuel Lorenzi graduated in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 2001, at which point he began working with Lissoni.
During his time with the studio, he has been responsible for a wide variety of projects for key clients around the world, involving hotels and residences, private villas, trade fair booths, company headquarters, showrooms, events and ship interiors. Over the years he has coordinated and directed all the projects for the Studio regarding Stands and Booths. With Fantini and Sanlorenzo he was responsible for the design and construction of their Headquarters, Trade Fair Booths and Showrooms, while in 2015, as designer and Project Architect, he brought to fruition Casa Fantini, an intimate and exclusive hotel on the shores of Lake Orta.
His experience as Project Architect began with the design of single-unit villas and developed over the years to encompass large-scale residential complexes in Sardinia and Mexico City. International projects have included the design of the architecture and interior of a restaurant within the context of a large-scale resort project in the United Arab Emirates. He has become a point of reference of the studio for training and problem resolution in relation to Revit.
Over the last 18 years, he has gained invaluable experience in coordinating and managing teams also at an international level and is highly skilled at on-site supervision and problem solving.- Tania Zaneboni
Interior Design Coordinator
After graduating from the Politecnico di Milano in 1999, she became a university lecturer at the same institution, teaching Architectural Design until 2007.
Prior to joining Lissoni, she worked with Migliore & Servetto Interior Design Studio and with Gregotti Associati International, gaining invaluable experience in the fields of both interior design and architecture.
She then brought this insight to Lissoni & Partners, which she joined in 2008 and where she is now the coordinator of the Studio’s Interior Design Department. She is currently responsible for managing multinational hospitality and residential projects, overseeing the design coordination and ensuring that the work is completed on plan and to the most exacting standards.
She has also acquired considerable expertise in the Interior design of historical buildings, enabling her to define an approach that is innovative while being fully consonant with the historical context.
She has completed a range of projects the world over, including the Hotel Mare Pineta in Italy, The Middle House Hotel and Residences in China and a private villa in the Netherlands. This experience has enabled her to become particularly skilled in the running and management of complex projects in culturally diverse environments.- Francesco Canesi Lissoni
Senior Designer
Born in 1982, Francesco Canesi Lissoni has been very much a part of the company from an early age, acquiring considerable experience inside and outside the firm in fields such as computer engineering, digital communications, artificial intelligence, robotics and game design, while 2004 saw him in Ghana setting up telemedicine and remote learning networks to connect with hospitals and schools in Italy. Francesco formally joined Lissoni Associati in 2006, initially working as a graphic designer and then moving on to interior and product design. He currently co-heads the design department together with Hanna Ehlers and was made partner of the firm in 2019. In his spare time, he engages in technological research and develops arts projects.- Nicoletta Canesi
Business Developer
Nicoletta Canesi studied Architecture at the Politecnico of Milan and obtained a master’s degree in Visual Design at Milan's Scuola Politecnica di Design. Between 1979 and 1985, she worked on interior, graphic design and advertising projects for companies both small and large, including Frigerio Architettura di Interni and Komma srl.
In 1986, Nicoletta and Piero Lissoni founded the interdisciplinary design studio Lissoni Associati in Milan, focusing on architecture, interior design, and product design. She relocated from Italy to the United States in 2006 to support a range of Lissoni projects, including interior design commissions in the hospitality and residential sector. As part of the Lissoni executive and leadership team, Nicoletta is responsible for business development and overseeing client relationships, bringing the firm’s unique vision to every commission.
Her work on projects in the Americas for Lissoni has included Oceana Bal Harbour, One Paraiso, Gran Paraiso and the Ritz Carlton Residences, all located in Miami, 45 Park Place in New York City, SLS Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and SLS Hotel & Residences in Cancún, Mexico.
*Licensed in New York and Italy.- Stefano Giussani
Project Architect
Architect* and interior designer, Stefano Giussani obtained both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, later acquiring a master’s in interior design from the Scuola Politecnica di Design Milano and a master’s in Project Management from the LUISS Business School in Rome.
He joined Lissoni Associati in Milan in 2004, becoming an integral part of the design team for projects both in Italy and abroad. In 2013, he was made partner, leading the firm’s interior design department for international projects, including Asia and the Middle East.
When Lissoni New York was founded in 2015 to serve as an extension of the Milan‐based interdisciplinary studio and to bring the interior design expertise of Piero Lissoni and his practice to the Americas, Stefano was appointed CEO and has propelled the establishment and rapid expansion of the firm. He defines the business development strategies, is responsible for client acquisition and develops and oversees projects for the American market, hiring and managing the firm’s international design team based in New York. As the key figure for Lissoni in the Americas, Stefano also delivers lectures and talks, bringing the Lissoni design philosophy as applied to hospitality, commercial and residential projects to an ever-wider audience.
While with Lissoni Associati in Milan, he completed a wide range of projects, including the Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem, Israel, Studio M Hotel in Singapore, the Taj Mahal Palace Suites in Mumbai, India, the Grand Suite at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, and the Oberoi Al Zorah Resort in the Emirate of Ajman.
As CEO of Lissoni New York, he is currently overseeing projects spanning the American continent from Canada and the United States to Brazil.
*Licensed in Italy.
Associates
- Fabrizia Bazzana
Project Architect
After obtaining her degree in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano, Fabrizia worked for a period with the architect Milan Marini, before joining Lissoni in 2007.
That same year she started working on the renovation of the Teatro Nazionale in Milan, later followed by other projects such as residential apartments in Houston, the StudioM Hotel in Singapore, the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam, the Spa & Fitness area in Saint Vincent Billia Resort and Casinò, and Apartments of the North Souks in Beirut.
She also worked on the “Shilla Stay” project, eight new buildings for a new business hotel brand by Samsung. She was part of the interior design team that developed a new concept of sojourning, mixing the needs of the international business community with the Korean tradition for high-quality service. The experience of The Conservatorium Hotel allowed her to follow the project throughout the entire design and construction process, from concept to on-site details and the final styling, a skill she employed to great effect in the design and construction of a private villa in Mumbai. Her work with leading furniture companies preparing for international design fairs has broadened her design skills and enabled her to become well acquainted with the entire production process.
Fabrizia has recently finished the interior design of the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj in Croatia, a beautiful seafront hotel completed in only three years. Collaborating with the local architect based in Zagreb, she developed the design of the guestrooms and public areas of the hotel together with adjoining areas that are open to the local community and which comprise a cafeteria, a tapas restaurant and a concept store.- Roberto Berticelli
Senior Interior Designer
After graduating from IED Institute in Milan, Roberto joined G14 Architecture Studio in Milan as Graphic Designer. As his career progressed, he became Art Director for Komma, a marketing and communications agency in Milan, later becoming the co-founder of DownTown, a Komma spin-off. This was followed by a period as Partner at MP&P, a company specializing in industrial, exhibition and retail design, and then as CEO and Creative Director of Komma itself.
Such an extensive range of roles and responsibilities has provided him with the experience and skills to enable him to approach projects with a comprehensive vision of the creative and managerial processes involved.
Since 2009, he has worked with Lissoni in the field of interior, product, exhibition and retail design. He is specifically involved in defining and expressing the particular stylistic connotations, positioning them within a specific cultural context and establishing the correct relationship with the final identity.
Project have included high-end hotels, multi-unit residences, events and showrooms both in Italy and around the world.- Stefano Castelli
Project Architect
Stefano graduated in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 2005. Initially working freelance, he gained valuable experience developing an extensive range of commercial and residential projects, including collaborating with the chef Davide Oldani on a collection of cutlery and glassware.
In 2008 he began working with Lissoni where he has been involved in multiple projects involving large-scale luxury hotels and private residences, including the Roomers Hotel in Baden-Baden, the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam, the Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem, along with the refurbishment of the historic Café Royal in London. Residential projects have included private villas in Geneva, Tel Aviv and Fabriano in Italy. He was also responsible for the design of the SX88 and SX76 yachts for Sanlorenzo.
He possesses considerable experience in following projects from the Design Concept stage all the way through to final construction, at times being closely involved in on-site management. He is an effective communicator and has a proven track record of managing multinational teams, liaising with clients, local suppliers and architects alike.- Hanna Ehlers
Head of Design
Hanna Ehlers graduated in Product Design from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar in Germany in 2005 and in the same year joined Lissoni Associati, where she is now the coordinator of the Studio’s Design Department. She has worked in the fields of product design, fit-outs and showrooms with many prestigious international brands, including Alessi, Atlas Concorde, B&B Italia, Benetton, Bonacina1889, Cotto, De Padova, Desalto, Fantini, Fendi Casa, Flos, Fritz Hansen, Glas Italia, Golran, Janus et Cie, Kartell, Knoll, Living Divani, Lema, Limonta Wall, Lualdi, Roda, Salvatori and Viccarbe. Hanna accompanies Piero Lissoni in teaching for Lissoni & Partners at Naba, Domus Academy and the Politecnico di Milano.- Ilia D'Emilio
Project Architect
Ilia D’Emilio obtained her Civil Engineering degree in 2004 from the Università degli Studi di Catania, Sicily, for a period also attending the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya in Barcelona where she studied Spanish, Catalan and photography. This was followed by a period in the design store owned by her family (Tito D’Emilio, Adi Compasso d’Oro Awards, 2006), where she gained invaluable experience of the international and Italian furniture world.
In 2006 she started collaborating with Lissoni as Project Architect and FF+E Coordinator, participating in numerous projects of interior design and architecture such as fair stands, private apartments, offices, showrooms, hotels and resorts for prestigious clients both in Italy and abroad. In her position she is also responsible for researching information gathered from furniture fairs worldwide.
She currently acts as FF&E coordinator for residential and hospitality projects and in this capacity has been responsible for a range of projects including the Grand Park Hotel in Rovinj, Croatia, Roomers Hotel in Baden-Baden, the makeover of the Grand Hotel Billia in the historic Saint-Vincent Casino Resort in the Aosta valley. She has also worked on the construction of the Filippo La Mantia restaurant in Milan.
She is currently managing all the FF&E relating to the construction of private villas in Amsterdam and Mumbai, hotels in Beijing and Frankfurt, a café & retail store in Southern Italy and is also working on a private villa in Southern Spain, a 200-room Hilton Hotel in Tbilisi, Georgia and on the design of the public areas for a residential development in London.- Joao Silva
Project Architect
After studying design and architecture in Portugal, Joao Silva completed his studies at the Politecnico di Milano in 2000, joining Lissoni in 2014. During his time with the practice, he has worked on a wide range of projects from product design, retail, mixed-use and residential projects to offices, museums and public spaces and has participated in numerous international design competitions. He co-founded the Defrancesco+Silva studio in 2005 and his MAK Table (2009) features in the Vienna MAK museum collection.
With his creative vision, he coordinates the Architecture Competitions Department and directs the concept development of projects worldwide. He is enthused by new design challenges with an eye towards innovation and the human touch, believing that the best ideas always come through stepping outside the comfort zone.
His most emblematic concept ideas include the “NYC Aquatrium” for the NYC Aquarium and Public Waterfront competition 2016, the “Breathing House” for the Last House on Mulholland competition 2017, the “Language Symphony” for the London Museum of Language competition 2018 and the ”High Lines”, a new urban pathway in NYC for the Metals in Construction Design Challenge 2019.
