Andrea Grassi

Co-Founder – Genius Loci Architettura (GLA)

Andrea Grassi, also known as “the globetrotting architect,” graduated with honors in Architecture from the University of Florence in 1988. From the very beginning of his career, he embarked on an international professional path, working with leading architectural and design firms as WATG and Arcadia Design , specializing in the hospitality sector in Boston, Honolulu, London, and Seville. During these years, he managed large-scale international projects spanning the Pan-Pacific region, North Africa, and the Red Sea, gaining extensive design expertise while building a broad network of international professional relationships that remains one of the defining strengths of his career.

In 1997, he returned to Italy and co-founded Genius Loci Architettura (GLA) in Milan together with fellow architects and former university colleagues Enrico Santi and Stefano Boninsegna. Today, GLA is recognized as one of Italy’s leading architectural and interior design practices, renowned for delivering high-profile projects across a wide range of sectors.

Throughout his career, Andrea Grassi has led major commissions for both Italian and international clients, earning a reputation for his ability to combine strategic vision, creativity, and pragmatism in addressing complex design challenges. His work is distinguished by its capacity to translate complexity into innovative, functional, and architecturally refined solutions.

GLA’s client portfolio includes many of Italy’s foremost real estate companies, such as Coima, Invesco; Kryalos, DeA Capital, Covivio, Savills, Investire, and Prelios, as well as international investment groups and funds operating in Italy, including OMNAM; H.I.G. Capital, Pygmalion, Goldman Sachs, and Hines. The firm has also been entrusted with the co-design of the new U.S. Consulate General in Milan. Among its private-sector collaborations, the long-standing relationship with the Kering Group stands out, with GLA delivering numerous projects for Gucci’s Italian corporate and representative offices.

In the hospitality sector, Andrea Grassi has contributed to the development of landmark hotel projects for some of the world’s leading brands, including Rocco Forte Hotels, W Hotels (Marriott), 25hours Hotels, Hilton DoubleTree, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, NH Hotels, Dorchester Collection, Meininger Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, Radisson Hotels, Cloud7 Hotels, and Horto Restaurant Milan, further reinforcing the international expertise he has developed over more than three decades in the industry.