At the XV Florence Biennale, scheduled from 18 to 26 October 2025 at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence, architect and designer Patricia Urquiola received the “Leonardo da Vinci” International Lifetime Achievement Award (Design), one of the most prestigious awards on the international cultural and artistic scene. The official ceremony took place in the presence of the artist, the press and an international audience, marking a moment of great importance for contemporary design.
A central figure in the world of design, Patricia Urquiola is now Art Director of Cassina, a historic excellence in Italian design. His work stands out for its unmistakable design language, capable of combining formal research, attention to materials, chromatic sensitivity and sustainability. His creations – ranging from furniture to interiors, from architecture to product design – are recognized globally for their ability to focus on the human experience and the dialogue between function and emotion.
The official motivation for the award, expressed by the Florence Biennale Board together with the Curatorial Committee and the International Jury, underlines the constant experimentation and visionary talent with which Urquiola has been able to design spaces, objects and production processes designed to improve the quality of life, while respecting nature. A path that collects the legacy of his master Achille Castiglioni, projecting it towards new horizons and overcoming the traditional boundaries of design through a harmonious hybridization of opposites.
In receiving the “Leonardo da Vinci” Lifetime Achievement Award, Patricia Urquiola highlighted the symbolic value of the award, recalling how Leonardo represents the union between art, science and invention, elements that she considers the very heart of design. An invitation, according to the designer, to continue to observe the world with curiosity, to experiment and to build connections between disciplines, people and emotions.
On the occasion of the Biennale, the public also has the opportunity to visit the exhibition “Transitions”, an exhibition that reflects Urquiola’s design method through an immersive journey between form, function and matter. The exhibition represents a natural extension of his creative thinking, offering a profound interpretation of his approach to design as a constantly evolving process.
The awarding of the “Leonardo da Vinci” International Lifetime Achievement Award to Patricia Urquiola confirms the central role of the designer on the international scene and reaffirms the importance of the Florence Biennale as a cultural platform capable of enhancing the excellence of contemporary creative thought, in constant dialogue between past, present and future.
INFO: Eugenia Nardacchione – CULTURALIART
PHOTO COURTESY: The Factory PRD
