Rodolfo Morandi and Nicolò Chinello are Italian architects and co-founders of AACM (Atelier Architettura Chinello Morandi), an architecture studio based in Padua and Milan. Founded on a commitment to contextual sensitivity and spatial atmosphere, AACM operates across residential, commercial, and public typologies, approaching architecture as a response to place, culture, and resource constraints. Their projects prioritize the end-user’s experience while balancing narrative, material economy, and cultural integration.
Morandi and Chinello’s work is defined by immersive spaces and clear architectural gestures, often shaped by site-specific atmospheres and typological reinvention. In Mosca.Bianca, a hybrid studio and exhibition space in Padua, terracotta takes center stage—both as material and narrative—framed by a stereotomic ceiling and a central monolith that conceals and reveals function. In Appartamento sui Navigli, a compact Milanese flat is reimagined through a single infrastructural core that organizes space and dissolves boundaries between private and public life. AACM’s ongoing projects include a new kindergarten in Padua, designed as a contemporary village rooted in imagination and locality, reinforcing their vision for architecture that is both rational and emotive—designed to elevate life and connect deeply with its context.
What inspires you?
As architects, we draw inspiration from the environment, the atmosphere, and archetypal materials and forms that are closely tied to the local context. Our vision is rooted in a curiosity to explore space and to create spaces that invite exploration.
What inspired you to become an architect?
The opportunity to create and give form to our thoughts has always been a driving force. Architecture allows us to turn ideas into something real, to shape spaces that didn’t exist before. What truly inspires us is the possibility to find new, thoughtful solutions that respond to people’s needs, improve their daily lives, and connect them more deeply to their surroundings.
How would you describe your design philosophy?
We believe architecture should move you. From the outside, the form should emerge naturally from its context: creating a connection between the user, their ancestors, the local traditions, and the culture of the place. When you enter the space, the atmosphere should be striking and intense, evoking deep emotions. That’s when architecture is at its best: when it enhances the user experience and gives meaning to both function and space.
Is there a new project we can look forward to from AACM?
We are currently working on a kindergarten in Padua, a public building that blends local tradition with innovation. It is conceived as an imaginative village, deeply rooted in its surroundings and designed to spark the imagination of its youngest inhabitants.
What is your favorite detail?
We’ve particularly enjoyed the relationship between light and the central table in our project Mosca.Bianca. The space is shaped by a kind of centripetal tension, where a single design gesture draws the atmosphere inward, focusing it around a zenithal light positioned directly above the worktable. A stereotomic ceiling form looms above, while below, a seemingly monolithic display altar stands diagonally across the room. On closer inspection, this monolith reveals its autonomy, a tectonic and lightweight piece of furniture, contrasting with the heavy surrounding space. Once its sides open to reveal a set of work chairs, a layered system of interlocking and overlapping becomes visible, exposing both function and craft.
Do you have a favorite material?
Not really. We let ourselves be guided by the identity of each project and what it wants to express. From there, we find the material that best brings that story to life. That said, we do have a fondness for vibrant materials, those that carry a sense of depth, texture, and history.
What is your process for starting a new project?
Everything begins with truly experiencing the place where the architecture will take shape. It’s essential to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere; to be inspired by the sounds, the light, and everything that defines that space. Only then can we start shaping our ideas and emotions, and give strength to the atmosphere through our design.
How do you fuel your creativity?
Our creativity is fueled by a mix of research, sketching, model-making, and constant observation. We study both other architects’ work and our own, learning from each project to evolve the next. Experiencing architecture firsthand, feeling the space, light, and materials, is essential. Above all, staying curious is key. Inspiration can come from anywhere, as architecture lives all around us.
What inspired Appartamento sui Navigli?
In Appartamento sui Navigli in Milan, it is a single gesture that shapes the entire environment. Appartamento sui Navigli is a studio apartment conceived as a retreat from the chaos of the metropolis, while making the most of every square meter. A single inserted element contains all the utility spaces and marks the thresholds between different rooms. It acts as a filter between public and private life. Discreet and integrated, it disappears into the architecture and, in doing so, becomes architecture. For us, this project embodies our belief that meaningful design begins with a strong and essential idea, something clear enough to define the space, give it identity, and guide every aspect of the project.
How was materiality part of the design process in Mosca.Bianca?
Materiality played a central role in shaping Mosca.Bianca. What began as a functional workshop evolved into a hybrid space, part studio, part exhibition venue, where the material itself guided the design. The breakthrough came when we stopped thinking of it as a traditional lab and instead imagined it as a high-end retail space, with terracotta not just present, but enhancing the entire architectural identity. The space was shaped like clay: coherent, tactile, and immersive. Every element, form, surface, and furniture felt connected. Practical needs were met through functional surfaces, while symbolic value came from the use of rammed-earth plaster made of clay and brick waste. This material choice embodied the cyclical nature of terracotta, aligning with the workshop’s values of reuse and transformation.
What advice would you give to young architects?
Our main piece of advice, and something we constantly remind ourselves of, is to deeply engage with both people and place. It is important to listen to the locals, understand the users’ real needs, and learn how to respond meaningfully to the context. Architecture is not only about form, but about building strong and thoughtful relationships. It is equally important to stay open to innovation while maintaining a sense of continuity with the past. Respecting tradition does not mean copying it, but rather interpreting it in a way that responds to contemporary needs and embraces sustainability. In the end, the most powerful architecture comes from careful observation, genuine empathy, and the ability to create spaces with atmosphere, places that connect deeply with both individuals and their surroundings.
