Architecture and much more – in fact, there’s a whole world to discover at A++ Group, a practice established in the early 2000s in Milan as a design studio that grew into a group of multidisciplinary companies with offices around the world and its headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland. The documentary, produced by THE PLAN Mediahouse, looks at the history and most important projects of A++ Group, presenting a journey into the design philosophy and daily life of the firm through the voices of its owners, Paolo Colombo and Carlo Colombo, as well as the professionals who make up their team.
A++ Group: passion for architecture and entrepreneurial vision
A++ Group is the result of a coming together of Paolo Colombo and Carlo Colombo, who, after winning their first design competition by pooling their strengths and skills, decided to continue the partnership. This marked the beginning of a path of growth and evolution based on combining a passion for architecture with an entrepreneurial vision in the real estate sector. Originally called A++ Human Sustainable Architecture, the group has never lost sight of its core values of the environment and humans.
“My family owns a furniture factory in Lissone, a town in Brianza. From the age of six, I always said that I wanted to be an architect and today I’m doing exactly what I’ve wanted to do since then …. A++ started life as a belief in architecture and sustainability. Nowadays, sustainability means designing projects that integrate perfectly into their setting and that create happiness for the people who live there.”
Paolo Colombo, architect, founder A++ Group
“Massagno is the heart of A++. It’s a building in central Lugano that was designed and built by us. It’s our company headquarters and includes a large open plan area that hosts our young team. Seventy-five architects, engineers, and designers work here. A very interesting area, which I call the green space, is our multimedia room, which has a wall covered in living moss. We use this space for internal meetings and project presentations, as well as for hosting clients for lunch or dinner, which we have prepared by our chef.”
Carlo Colombo, architect and designer, partner A++ Group
A++ is made up of 40 companies involved in architecture and interior design, as well as hospitality, brand management, construction, procurement, and real estate. This makes it possible to offer clients a complete service, beginning with the initial design idea through to the construction and sale of the project. A++ Group is a family made up of over 150 professionals that’s grown to be a successful international brand.
All images courtesy A++ Human Sustainable Architecture
