Galfetti, Aurelio (1936-2021), Swiss architect

Aurelio Galfetti was born in Biasca, Ticino, Switzerland on 2 April 1936. He is regarded as one of the main exponents of Ticino architecture of the twentieth century. From 1954 to 1960 he studied architecture at the ETH Zürich and in 1960 he opened his own architect's office in Lugano. From 1962 to 1970 he worked in a joint office with Flora Ruchat and Ivo Trümpy, and from 1970 to 1978 on various projects together with Livio Vacchini, Luigi Snozzi, Rino Tami and Mario Botta. In 1984 he was visiting professor at the EPF Lausanne and 1987 at the UP8 in Paris. In 1996, together with Mario Botta, Galfetti founded the Academia di Architettura in Mendrisio, whose director he was from 1996 to 2001.

Galfetti's major works include the single family dwelling Rotalinti (Bellinzona, 1960-61), the open-air swimming pool in Bellinzona (1967-70), the central post office in Bellinzona (1977-85), the restoration of Burg Castelgrande (1981-91) and th office and commercial building Ulysses (Lausanne, 1991-1994). He died in Bellinzona, Switzerland on 5 December 2021 aged 85.