TEAM & PARTNERS

FOUNDERS

Claudio Modola Design was founded by Italian architectural designer Claudio Modola almost 20 years ago. Inspired early in life by the luminous Baroque towns of Southern Italy; from where he originates, the studio provided a vehicle through which the architectural designer could freely explore; in creative and technical terms, his irrepressible passion for beauty in the built environment.

Projects such as Fort Ferro; an Omani inspired fortified residence on the shores of Kenya’s chic Lamu archipelago, followed amongst others, which caught the eye of Architectural Digest and other industry specialised press bringing with it an undisputable appreciation of the design studio’s refined style.

A significant number of prestigious residential and commercial architectural projects ensued, ranging in influence from the colonial to Islamic and contemporary styles and in 2006, Claudio Modola invited British project manager Andrea Mathison to partner with him. Her undertaking to oversee and manage the operational direction and expansion of the design studio as it sought to respond to market demand and extend its services to interior design consultancy whilst also widening the studio’s geographical horizons.

The alliance yielded positive results which wed passionate creativity and technical precision together with an unusually customised approach to its clientele in an intercontinental context.

Today Claudio Modola Design has established itself as an internationally recognised, award winning Italian design practice offering highly customised architectural and interior design; and as required engineering and turnkey solutions through its network of trusted associates, to a prestigious clientele from its bases in the U.A.E., Italy, Kenya and the Sultanate of Oman.

TEAM

Claudio Modola Design is a multi-discipline design studio which hand picks it talented design team members to respond in an efficient, tailored manner to our clients brief.

  • Claudio is the studio’s creative design director and has received significant international recognition and accolades for his work. He is specialized in the design of prestigious private residential structures and luxurious commercial developments. Having worked around the world, he brings a refined global perspective to each project he undertakes. He is passionate about the way in which architecture sculpts the built environment and transforms lives in a long-lasting and emotionally significant way.

    Claudio Modola
    Creative Director / Founder
  • Andrea, a graduate of Leeds University, UK is an experienced project manager, who blends her skills in design and management to oversee all aspects of the studio’s operations. Andrea is passionate about delivering an exceptional product and in order to do so connecting the firms design team members, with an emphasis on conceptually driven design and collaboration among all disciplines for the duration of the project. Drawing great satisfaction in seeing a project transform from a client’s idea to a vision and finally into a beautifully designed building, her objective is to deliver the big idea through “total design.”

    Andrea Mathison
    Operation Director / Founder
  • Stefania holds a Masters Degree in Architecture and Urban Design with a specialisation in the design of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Architecture. Her wealth of knowledge acquired as a result of travelling the Middle Eastern region as a research architect, coupled with her solid professional experience within Europe, translates to Stefania having a meticulous eye which she employs when working with the company’s directors to facilitate the coordination of the studio’s operations

    Stefania Petralla
    Project Coordinator
  • Francesca holds a Master Degree in Architecture and Building Engineering, her multi disciplinary background and professional experience in both restructuring and new build projects across Europe, Africa and the Middle East equate to an analytical approach to the built environment. This coupled with the pride, Francesca takes, in working within project budgets to creatively provide solutions that result in buildings that perform, are maintainable in the long term and achieve the client’s aesthetic and functional goals, makes her an integral part of the architectural design team.

    Francesca Tocco
    Architect / Building Engineer
  • Graduated from La Sapienza University in Rome in 2006, Federica is an experienced design and site architect with a professional background in both residential and commercial sectors. Accomplished in both architectural and interior design, Federica thrives on the challenge of bringing a seamless continuity to the studio’s projects and facilitating the client’s vision from conception to reality through her strong work ethic and exacting attention to detail.

    Federica Lovato
    Architect
  • Samir collaborates with Claudio Modola Design’s projects in the Sultanate of Oman through the studio’s strategic alliance agreement with Azri Architects, Muscat, of which he is an associate. Specialised in architectural engineering, Samir has a sound understanding of both disciplines within a global context as a result of his education in the UK and the USA, allowing him to bring a wealth of local knowledge and experience to the studio’s operations in the Sultanate and beyond.

    Samir Al Azri
    Architectural Engineer
  • Gaia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture specialising in interior and visual design. Working with the studio since 2008, Gaia’s highly agile educational and professional background, coupled with her comfort with technology and obsession for innovation, allows her to works closely with the creative designer for the duration of a project to ensure that his vision is realised in every detail at architectural and interior level before being portrayed through high definition computer generated imagery for presentation to the client.

    Gaia Miacola
    Architect
  • Camilla graduated from the University of Florence in 2008 and over the course of her career has developed a thorough understanding of the design demands of multi cultural settings as a result of her work with a number of high profile architectural studios across Europe. Her diverse portfolio ranges from the architectural and interior design of utilitarian buildings such as offices and convention centres to environmentally sustainable complexes and luxury villas making her a very adaptable member of the studio’s design team.

    Camilla Maresca
    Architect
  • Nello has over 40 years of procurement and supply and his ability to source, research and procure the best in Italian design materials and technologies specific to a particular project’s requirements, enables the studio to push boundaries and propose to its clients finishing materials and green solutions of exceptional beauty, quality, longevity and value for money in the realisation of its projects.

    Nello Minelli
    Material Research & Procurement
  • Elisa holds an Architectural Degree specialising in Urban Design from the Roma Tre University. Extremely passionate about conveying the atmosphere and emotion of a project in an immediately comprehensible format to her audience, Elisa’s talented use of Cinema 4D and VRAY – pro C4D enables the studio to model and represent its ideas in absolute precision both for its architectural and interior design projects.

    Elisa Togni
    Architect & 3D Renderer
  • Emirati architect Saif Ghubash has more than 13 years of experience working in the government overlooking various urban planning projects from housing developments to creating guidelines and standards. A strong believer in preserving the true identity of culture in design, Saif’s background allows him to fully understand the requirements of each project and each client’s individual needs, which gives him a holistic approach to each design. With a deep understanding of government processes and technical knowledge Saif is able to obtain building permits and ensure projects progress with ease.

    Saif Ghubash
    Project Coordinator
PARTNERS

As an architectural and interior design studio we believe strongly in teamwork and in the trust that is built up working together over many years, be it, with engineering consultants or producers of quality products.

As a result of our long standing relationships with some of the best engineering firms in the U.A.E. and East Africa, the studio is able, upon request and in collaboration with our trusted engineering associates, to offer our clients a complete range of construction consultancy services, in a “one stop shop” scenario under the single umbrella of the studio. This is a popular option in our projects and alleviates the clients need to deal with more than one consultant.

Since its incorporation, Claudio Modola Design has established professional relationships with the following trusted design consultants and suppliers, all of whom share the studio’s goal for excellence in design and consistent timely delivery of the product.

Duffy Consulting Engineers , Abu Dhabi, UAE and Doha, Qatar.

DCE is an international multidisciplinary engineering consultancy offering the following services through their Middle East offices:

Civil Engineering Services – Road Design, Drainage Design and Topographical Surveys.

Structural Engineering Services – Foundation Design, Steel Beam Design, Snag Lists, Monitoring of Construction (Site Supervision), and Structural Surveys.

Astbury Shepherd Gilmour, Dubai, UAE.

ISO 9001:2000 accredited Shepherd Gilmour have provided a comprehensive engineering (structural, civil and infrastructure) and environmental consultancy service for over 50 years. Operating as an international firm of multi disciplinary engineers from offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UK, Shepherd Gilmour are a proactive consultancy, researching and reviewing industry developments in order to provide clients with innovative, value led service.

Tufail Noorani Engineers, Mombasa, Kenya.

The studio has completed numerous successful projects across Kenya in collaboration with engineer Tufail Noorani, valuing his professionalism, appreciation of the architectural design and commitment to delivering value for money services.

CSA (M&E) Gulf, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

CSA Building Services Consulting Engineers was founded in Hong Kong is 1995 in response to Asia Pacific’s need for a consultancy practice to deliver premium level construction and design advice. Through a period of steady growth the group has opened successful offices in Macau, London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

CSA Gulf’s growth has been fast and they have quickly become established as one of the leading consultants in the UAE region offering a high international standard of MEP design consultancy services in line with their wider group model. In recent years CSA Gulf have also become leaders in Estidama Building Services related components, offering energy modelling services and undertaking a Commissioning Agents role.

Azri Architects

Azri Architects is an independent Architectural Design and Engineering Consultancy firm in the Sultanate of Oman. They work closely with Claudio Modola Design on its projects in the Sultanate to provide sustainable multi-disciplinary design solutions and support as a result of their extensive experience in, and knowledge of the region.

Flanagan Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, U.A.E..

Flanagan Arabia has over 20 years experience in the Middle East from its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, through which it has built up a significant regional portfolio with Clients ranging from Government Bodies, Banking Groups, International Investors and Private Developers.

Mandhry Associates, Mombasa, Kenya.

The studio has completed numerous successful projects across Kenya in collaboration with quantity surveyors Mandhry Associates, valuing their professionalism and commitment to delivering value for money services.

Realizzando – Hand Made Italian Models

• Cave Tinella • Antolini Spa • Gianluca Pacchioni • Viabizzuno • Fantini Mosaic • The English Garden Company