Biographical notes

Cesare Maria Casati was born in Milan in 1936 where he studied architecture and in 1960 he joined Gio Ponti’s studio, who immediately involved him in the editing of “Domus” magazine (Editoriale Domus), becoming later its responsible director until June 1979.
From January 1981 he became editor of the magazine "La Mia Casa" (Peruzzo Editore) until June 1985.
In February 1986 he founded the magazine “l’Arca”, international magazine of architecture, design and visual communication, and becomes its responsible director.
In 1985 he was in charge of the interior fittings project of the European Community Pavilion at Tzukuba Expo.
In 1986, 1988 and 1992 realizes the projects of the interior design of the Italian Pavilion at the Expos of Vancouver, Brisbane and Seville.
Later, in 1995, he also became the director of “l’Arca International”, the trilingual version of “l’Arca” edited by MDO in the Principality of Monaco.
From 2004 to 2010 he was appointed professor at the Faculty of Architecture in Valle Giulia (Rome) in the Interior Architecture degree course.
Professor in the Master of interior architecture at the Faculty of Architecture in Valle Giulia (Rome).
His design works are exhibited at the Museum Modern Art in New York.
His architectural and interior projects have been realized in different places in the world (see the book published by l’Arca International: "From 1960 ...").
He has been a jury member in various international competitions, awards and events and speaker at various conferences worldwide.

Biographical notes

Sebastiano Raneri, Interior Designer, has worked as a freelancer since 1984, mainly in the fields of Interior Design, Design, Urban Design, Renovation and Residential Building Designer, Hospitality, Religious and Healthcare Facilities, both in Italy and abroad.
His profession is enriched by project research on the removal of architectural barriers, on the functional adjustment of social and hospitality facilities, with a particular attention to materials and how to mix them.
He appreciates constructive professional dialogue, because he considers it to be the necessary means to professional and cultural growth; because of this, he has taken part in several international competitions for projects and ideas, which he has won many times.
Over the course of his career, many of his works have been featured and showcased in publications, because of the attention to detail and the main element of all his designs, namely “Design for all”.
He favors training events and any chance of professional dialogue, both in Italy and abroad, taking part in conferences, congresses, workshops and in many juror panels for competitions all over the world.

He was also:
- National President of the Italian Association of Interior Designers
- Member of Colap’s (Coordination of freelancers associations) Board of directors
- Member of the Test commission for professional habilitation of the Ministry for Education
- Global President of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers, headquartered in New York City

Now he:
- Actively works with several magazines for architecture and design, as well as industry companies at a global level
- Works with POLIDesign, of which he was Vice President (Consortium of Milan’s Politecnico)
- As IFI’s Past President, he coordinates Interior Design Ambassadors in the world as well as the Education Portfolio for future Interior Designers

Biographical notes

Student of Scarpa and Niemeyer, Dante O. Benini carried out building projects worldwide co-operating with Frank O. Ghery, Richard Meier, Arup and Daniel Libeskind. He is registered architect at Rome “Ordine degli Architetti” (Italian Architects’ Register), and also chartered member of U.K. ARB (Architects Registration Board) RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects.
In 1997 he founded “Dante O. Benini & Partners Architects” of which he is at present Leader Partner and Chairman together with Luca Gonzo Senior Partner and Managing Director.
DOBP practice with Headquarters in Milan is also present in Monaco, it has specific departments dedicated to architectural project design, urban planning, interior design, yacht design. A staff of 60 people carries out, worldwide, complete projects of urban areas, major companies headquarters, industrial laboratories and shopping centers, exclusive clubs and private houses, yachts, as well as object design. Each project is designed on the basis of technical, economic and environmental sustainability, within a quality architectural context based on details care.
DOBP practice has been awarded several architectural and design prizes and mentions (the latest is Best Lighting Design at Boat International Design & Innovation Awards 2018); won or was classified in international competitions and is invited to hold workshops and conferences both in Italy and abroad.
DOBP practice works have been often published and Bruno Zevi, Cesare De Seta, Cesare Casati, Ada Francesca Marcianò, Renato Pedio, Roberto Guiducci, Giampiero Bosoni, Murizio Vitta and Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi are among the authors of articles about the practice.