Matteo Thun

Architectural visions in aquarelle



Casual gestures of lines, the colors of nature, rolling shapes – these are the elements of Matteo Thun’s architectural visions on paper in aquarelle. The initial drafted manifestations of his structural creativity, these sketches are an art form unto themselves and captivate us with their simple beauty, clarity, and the melding of structure and landscape.


The star architect and Milan resident, born in Bolzano, Italy, is dedicated to a style of building that integrates nature, transparency, and socio-cultural aspects into a sustainable whole. The genius loci – the particular spirit or atmosphere of a place – is crucial to his work. The landscape should operate as a cultural landscape; the buildings should disappear into it by assuming similar characteristics while translating these into discreet architectural elements. Natural materials such as regional wood and stone, glass, and soft natural materials for the interiors, as well as forms borrowed from the surrounding environment, play a crucial role: the Pergola Residence in Algund near Meran, Italy allows the vineyard to flow into the resort and the 12 apartments, two suites, breakfast room, and spa. A location’s climatic conditions are always integrated into the buildings’ energy supply, while large glass panels continuously create a flow between inside and out.


Thun’s aquarelles exude tranquility, concentration, and the desire to harmonize architecture and nature and best exemplify the goals of his designs. The soft stroke of the brush, the harmonious unity of building and landscape in the image, the lines reduced only to the essentials are congenial artistic expressions of Thun’s architectural visions – visions of sustainable architecture one with nature.