Mario Cucinella was born in Palermo, Italy and is one of the most influential architects practicing in Europe today with multiple award-winning international design projects. Not only is Cucinella's work lauded for design excellence, but he is a recognized global leader in sustainable practices ranging from site-specific architecture to complex urban master plans. The impact and significance of his work—both environmental and social—as an architect and educator, have been recognized worldwide with Honorary Fellowship by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2017, and by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) who bestowed upon him their prestigious International Fellowship in 2016. In 2018 Mario Cucinella was the curator of the Italian Pavilion "Arcipelago Italia" at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. In 2019 he presented the Mario Cucinella Design and the Building Objects collection inspired by his architectural projects.