Three Signature Events Showcasing Bold Ideas in Architecture, Innovation, and Climate-Conscious Design in partnership with TMU
Toronto, ON, May 27, 2025 — The ICFF, in collaboration with Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), is proud to announce the arrival of internationally renowned architect Mario Cucinella as the special guest for the 2025 edition of its Architettura & Design program, presented by Great Gulf. Taking place on July 8 & 9, this special initiative will feature a series of high-profile events highlighting Cucinella’s visionary contributions to contemporary architecture and sustainability, hosted thanks to the support of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Toronto.
The program will open on July 8 with a Keynote Presentation at Canadian Stage, where Cucinella will guide the audience through the design principles and philosophies behind some of his most acclaimed works. The evening will include a special cocktail reception.
The following day Cucinella will inaugurate the first Canadian exhibition dedicated to his Bologna and Milan-based studio, MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, at TMU’s Paul H. Cocker Gallery. The event will feature a special masterclass for TMU architecture students and faculty. The exhibition will include models, drawings, and documentation of some of the architect’s most noteworthy projects.
This year’s Architettura & Design program reflects on the state of our built environment, drawing inspiration from Buckminster Fuller’s concept of “Spaceship Earth.” Central to this reflection is Cucinella’s recently unveiled project, the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, a structure envisioned as a living organism that fosters knowledge, innovation, and intercultural exchange. The Pavilion embodies the theme of the Expo—Designing Future Society for Our Lives—and serves as a symbol of Italy’s leadership in sustainable design that underscores its artisanal heritage.
Founded in 1992, MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects has led international projects across sectors and has received numerous prestigious awards for its forward-thinking and environmentally conscious architecture. In 2015, Cucinella also founded SOS – School of Sustainability, a post-graduate program aimed at addressing global challenges through design.
The 2025 ICFF Architettura & Design program offers Toronto audiences a rare opportunity to engage with one of the most respected and innovative architects of our time. Through a keynote, exhibition, and masterclass, the public and design community are invited to participate in a timely dialogue on the future of architecture and its role in shaping a more sustainable world.
The program is proudly supported by Nuera Logistics and Air Canada.
