Valentina Mion

Phd Architect and Urban Planner

Valentina is an architect and urban designer with extensive international experience across countries such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Nicaragua, Spain, Italy, Morocco, the United States, and Switzerland.

After completing her studies at the Polytechnic University of Milan and the Superior Technical School of Architecture of Madrid, she graduated in Architecture in July 2012. In 2014, she founded NotToScale Architecture in Lugano, a design and consulting firm specializing in architecture and urban planning.

In the early years, her work focused primarily on urban and territorial planning, providing consultancy and project coordination services for private clients and companies. Simultaneously, she collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of urban specialists to implement urban design projects in different countries.

In 2017, Valentina earned a PhD in Urban Design from the Polytechnic University of Milan, where she developed a methodology for interventions in informal and challenging urban contexts. To build on her research, she co-founded BUUP in 2018 with Fernando Botton, a collective of architects specializing in urban regeneration and upgrading processes in informal settlements. She also worked on urban regeneration plans in Central and South America in collaboration with Ezquiaga Arquitectura Sociedad y Territorio, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Her research and professional interests focus on exploring new approaches to urban planning through open data, infographic mapping, participatory processes, and community engagement.

Since 2020, Valentina has expanded her work to include architectural and interior design projects, specializing in the renovation and renewal of existing buildings. She strongly believes that urban regeneration should also be driven by the revitalization of architectural heritage to create more sustainable cities.

Simone Lanotte

Senior Designer

Simone is a senior designer with expertise spanning from graphic design to interior design. With a passion for integrating creativity and technology, he excels in combining aesthetics and functionality in every project.

With a background in Graphic Arts and Communication, he completed his studies at the Galileo Galilei Technical Institute, where he developed strong skills in editorial design and production processes for print and media.

His professional career began in 2005 at Alea Jacta Studio, where he specialized in creating images, illustrations, and infographics for magazines and newspapers. Over the years, Simone expanded his expertise at Duesse Communication, becoming a key figure in graphic design for specialized magazines. For ten years, he managed layout design, magazine restyling, and the development of multimedia materials, solidifying his experience in the editorial sector.

His practical mindset and natural inclination for design led him to collaborate on architectural projects, where he applied his graphic design skills to technical and structural challenges. Since 2018, he has worked as a freelance collaborator with NotToScale Architecture, contributing to projects that merge graphic and web design with communication strategies and digital optimization. During this time, he also specialized in 3D design and the creation of virtual tours, offering clients immersive experiences to preview spaces for renovations and new constructions.

Passionate about technological innovation and design, Simone aims to continue growing as a professional while contributing to projects that balance aesthetics, functionality, and cutting-edge solutions. In 2023, he solidified his partnership with NotToScale Architecture, officially joining the firm and taking on a prominent role in projects and business strategies.