Antonino Cardillo
Antonino Cardillo | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 18, 1975 |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Notable work | Specus Corallii, House of Dust |
Antonino Cardillo is an Italian architect from Erice, Sicily, known for atmospheric interior designs and the expressive use of textured materials. His notable projects include Specus Corallii in Trapani’s Sala Laurentina and the domestic installation House of Dust in Rome.
Born in Erice on May 18, 1975, Cardillo studied architecture at the University of Palermo between 1993 and 1998 and graduated in 2002 with a design thesis for a marina in Trapani titled Let There Be More Light.[1]
Career
Cardillo began working professionally in the early 2000s. His early interior works and conceptual projects gained attention in international design media, with features in Dezeen, Wallpaper, The Architectural Review and other architecture publications.[2][3][4]
Working between Sicily, Rome and northern Italy, he has developed interiors characterised by textured surfaces, muted colour palettes and a sculptural treatment of space. His studio describes these works as investigations into atmosphere, memory and materiality — themes that recur throughout his practice.[5]
Cardillo’s best-known architectural work is Specus Corallii (2015–2016), the transformation of the historic Sala Laurentina into a coral-coloured, grotto-like oratory. The project has been noted for its immersive use of calcarenite-based plasters, symbolic motifs and allusions to Trapani’s maritime heritage.[6]
Another significant work is House of Dust (2013), a domestic interior in Rome characterised by a rough, cave-like vaulted ceiling and an emphasis on the idea of "architectures of sedimentation". The project has been discussed in architectural criticism for its exploration of material texture, layered surfaces and a sense of suspended, almost metaphysical time.[7]
Cardillo has also created temporary installations and commercial interiors, including a boutique for Sergio Rossi during Milan Fashion Week, and restaurant interiors in Rome. His work continues to appear in international design media for its experimental, atmospheric approach to contemporary interior architecture.[8]
References
- ^ "Profile – Antonino Cardillo". Antonino Cardillo – Official Website. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ "Coarse pink plaster shapes Specus Corallii cave-like interior in Sicily". Dezeen. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ "Sergio Rossi x Wallpaper ephemeral boutique, Milan". Wallpaper. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ "Off Club, Rome, Italy by Antonino Cardillo". The Architectural Review. EMAP. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
- ^ "Works". Antonino Cardillo. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ^ Gottardo, Francesca (2017). "Specus Corallii: Il rifugio della memoria". Abitare la Terra (in Italian). XVI (41). Gangemi Editore: 44–46.
- ^ Gottardo, Francesca (2015). "Architettura di polvere". Abitare la Terra (in Italian). XIV (37). Gangemi Editore: 50–53.
- ^ "Off Club, Rome". Wallpaper. Retrieved 3 December 2025.