Italian architects Stefano Boeri and Cino Zucchi have expressed their surprise at being investigated for collusion in the commissioning of a major library in Milan, with prosecutors requesting house arrest.
The pair of architects, along with a third unnamed person, are being investigated for their role in the awarding of the Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura (BEIC) commission to a team led by Italian studio Onsitestudio.
Boeri (pictured), who is the founder of Stefano Boeri Architetti, and Zucchi, who is the founder of Cino Zucchi Architetti, acted as commissioners for the international design competition. Boeri was the chair of the panel.
“I confidently await the meeting”
Prosecutors in Milan have scheduled a preliminary hearing for 4 February and have requested that both architects be placed under house arrest. This will be determined at the hearing.
The architects defended their position in statements issued to the press.
“I am both surprised and extremely shocked,” said Boeri in a statement issued to Dezeen. “I confidently await the meeting with the preliminary investigation judge in order to finally clarify my position.”
“The great rigour with which I participated in the work of the BEIC competition jury makes me completely calm with respect to the ongoing investigations, and I hope that the confrontation with the prosecutors can demonstrate my complete lack of involvement in the contested facts,” said Zucchi in a statement to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera.
The BEIC library is set to be built in the Porta Vittoria area of Milan. A design by Onsitestudio with Italian studios Baukuh, Yellow Office, SCE Project, Studio Mistretta, Starching, Stain Engineering, Dotdotdot, (ab)Normala and Atmos Lab, was announced as the winner of an international competition in 2022. The team was selected from 44 bids.
Corriere Della Sera reported that the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office believed that “collusions” had occurred between the winning team and the commissioners.
The accusations surround contact made between Boeri and Zucchi, and Italian architect Pier Paolo Tamburelli, who is a principal at Baukuh.
According to the prosecutors, Tamburelli “violated the anonymity provided for by the notice” of the bid tender and “repeatedly came into contact with commissioners Zucchi and Boeri”, reported Corriere Della Sera.
“We renew our full confidence in the work of the commission”
Following the reports, the BEIC foundation, which organised the architectural competition, issued a statement in support of Boeri.
“As a foundation, we renew our full confidence in the work of the commission chaired by architect Boeri, as well as in the work of the judiciary, certain that the evolution of the judicial process will clarify the transparency of the commission’s work,” reported Milan-based newspaper Il Giorno.
Boeri is one of the most prominent architects in Milan, responsible for numerous projects including the Bosco Verticale skyscraper. He is also president of Triennale Milano museum, which also stood by the architect.
“The board of directors, the director general, the advisory committee, and all the staff of Triennale Milano express their full support to Stefano Boeri, president of Triennale Milano, confident that he will have the opportunity to clarify his position in the appropriate forums,” said Triennale Milano in a statement issued to Dezeen.
“The passion, pride, and daily work carried out together, with dedication and integrity, will guide us through this delicate moment, during which we remain fully confident in the actions of the judiciary.”
The news comes as numerous projects in Milan have been put on hold by the prosectors office, which is investigating abuses in the issuing of fast-track building permits.
The photography is by Gianluca di Ioia.
