Bugatti Reunion. Back at the “Blue Factory”

Thirty years ago, freshly graduated from the University of Venice, I had the privilege to work with Giampaolo Benedini, one of the finest Italian architects and designers of our times.

Among the various projects I was thrown in, one stood out for quality and sheer audacity of vision: to make the luxury cars brand Bugatti great again by developing the best, fastest and most technologically advanced GT car of all times, designing every single piece from scratch, a totally bespoke product in the true spirit of the founder, Ettore Bugatti. This was the vision and mission of Bugatti’s President Romano Artioli that inspired everyone involved in this beautiful adventure that led to the creation of an icon, the EB110.

The architectural challenge was to design the new factory and headquarters by creating the perfect environment to achieve such an ambitious goal.

Last Saturday, the protagonists of this dream and admirers of Bugatti have gathered around President Artioli in the so-called “Blue Factory” in Campogalliano, Italy to celebrate that wonderful era.

I have learned many lessons from this experience, but a couple stand out. From President Romano Artioli to never put a limit to your dreams and persevere with enthusiasm and intelligence to pursue them.

From Giampaolo Benedini I learned how to give shape to the Client’s vision and how to execute its design with flair, style, precision and, maybe more importantly, to never be satisfied with “just good” but to aim always for excellence and nothing less than that.

With the “Master”, Giampolo Benedini.

President Romano Artioli, strong and enthusiastic as ever.

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With the iconic EB110.

The production building, where EB110 was assembled.

The structural ceiling of the show-room space.