In 1994, Duilio Forte received the first prize in the San Carlo Borromeo competition at La Permanente in Milan for his Ekeberg Sauna, a structure built in Sweden. This early success established a career path focused on large-scale sculptural installations and wood-iron architecture, bridging the professional boundaries between artistic research and physical building construction.
Professional Formation and AtelierFORTE
Born in Milan in 1967 to an Italian surgeon father and Swedish mother, Forte completed his architectural studies at the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1994. On March 13, 1998, he established AtelierFORTE, a research laboratory dedicated to sculpture and architecture. Operating from a former textile factory in Milan that he acquired the same year, Forte manages the design and execution of his projects manually, utilizing his own tools for fabrication.
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In 2009, on the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth, Forte formalized his design philosophy through the ArkiZoic Manifesto. This framework dictates that his structures synthesize architecture with geological time periods. The manifesto outlines eight critical pillars for his work: method, evolution, mathematics, representation, structure, symmetry, materials, and decoration. This theoretical foundation guides his ongoing installations and architectural outputs.
Sleipnir and Zoomorphic Installations
Forte is widely recognized for his series of sculptures inspired by the Norse myth of Odin’s eight-legged horse and the legend of the Trojan horse. These zoomorphic structures, some reaching heights of 60 feet, have been featured at international venues including the 11th and 12th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice and the XXI Triennale International Exhibition of Milan, where he displayed his URSUS project in 2016.
Academic and Pedagogical Engagement
Beyond his creative output, Forte maintains an active role in architectural education. Since 2003, he has directed the StugaProject, an annual workshop near Grythyttan, Sweden. In Italy, he serves as a lecturer in materials technologies at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti di Milano. He became a member of the Swedish Association of Architects in 2005 and received a nomination for the Yakov Chernikhov International Prize in 2010.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967, Milan, Italy
- Education: Polytechnic University of Milan, 1994
- AtelierFORTE founded: March 13, 1998
- ArkiZoic Manifesto date: 2009
- Swedish Association of Architects member since: 2005
- Notable series: Sleipnir
Questions readers ask
What is the ArkiZoic Manifesto?
It is a 2009 architectural framework created by Forte that defines his style through the integration of architecture and geological periods based on eight specific principles.
What subjects does Duilio Forte teach?
He teaches materials technologies at the Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti di Milano and organizes an annual art and architecture workshop known as StugaProject.
Achievements
- Trained at Polytechnic University of Milan
