RigonSimonetti

Founded in 2019 in Vicenza by Francesco Rigon and Margherita Simonetti, RigonSimonetti is an architectural firm whose work focuses on the recovery and reinterpretation of the built heritage. Their practice continually redefines its approach to design, seeking a balance between continuity with tradition and the pursuit of the unexpected. While primarily engaged in reuse and restoration, the firm also explores new constructions, open spaces, and interiors, extending its architectural inquiry across scales and contexts.

Both architects graduated from IUAV University of Venice in 2018 under Professor Renato Rizzi, with whom they later collaborated on teaching, research, and exhibitions. Since its inception, the firm has participated in numerous design competitions in Italy, receiving several awards, including the first prize (2020) for the restoration of the Teatro Verdi in Terni, now under construction, and the first prize (2026) in the competition for the reconstruction of “Tonini” mountain shelter in the alps. Among their completed projects, the restoration of a Venetian Villa (2025) received the honorable mention in the Carlottaxarchitettura Award 2026 and has been published on Domus, while the project “A Void to share” for the transformation of a factory in Vicenza was selected among the finalists at the BigMat award 2025.