Luigi Esposito (architect)

Award-winning Brazilian architect & interior designer, Luigi Esposito (born 16 September 1968), is the co-founder and Creative Director of Oro Bianco, the luxury Architectural Interior Design House based in South Kensington, London, where Luigi and his team of talented architects and interior designers focus solely on luxury design for London's super-prime properties. Internationally acclaimed for his personal approach to his work, Luigi is a key figure within the luxury interior design market.

Oro Bianco Interior Design was founded by Luigi Esposito and Managing Director Killian Thomas Lynch late in 2011 with the aim of becoming the number one luxury design house for London's super-prime property market. Drawing on Luigi's 20 years' experience of luxury architectural and interior design, Oro Bianco entered the market with a commission to remodel and refurbish a 7,000 square foot apartment in Mayfair in Luigi’s signature style – a sumptuous look honed and developed during his impressive career working with Prada, Donna Karen, Ralph Lauren and Casa Forma.

Luigi is joined at Oro Bianco by Stefania Mazzarani, a multi-talented Creative Director with over six years experience in the industry. Stefania and Luigi first worked together over five years ago on high-profile projects at Casa Forma. Luigi and his team of RIBA Architects and multi-disciplined interior designers are now aiming to take the super-prime property market to the next level. Luigi is a natural people person and a dynamic entrepreneur within the design industry, while each member of his team is an expert in their field, whether interior design, architecture or business management.

Luigi and Killian's decision to concentrate on super-prime properties has created an interior design powerhouse ideally positioned to bring the best in luxury design to London's elite property owners.

Igor, Luigi’s pedigree whippet, can also be found curled up in the corner of Luigi’s office. When he is not relaxing on his bed, he is most likely to be seen in Hyde Park chasing his tail and running with other canine friends.

Born in Tubarao, Santa Catarina, Brazil to an Italian father and a Brazilian mother, Luigi enjoyed his early years growing up in Tubarao, before joining secondary school in Florianopolis, the island-city capital of Santa Catarina. While at school, Luigi was immediately interested in the creative arts, and as well as studying for his academic subjects, Luigi also developed skills in music, singing, acting and set designing for the theatre. It was this avid interest in design that attracted Luigi to eventually study for a degree in Architecture and Urbanism at Centro Universitario Ritter dos Reis in Porto Alegre, Rio Grand do Sul.

During his final semester in architecture, and while busy studying for his finals in 1992, Luigi and his fellow students opened an atelier, Vertico Architecture & Art, Over the next three years, Luigi and the Vertico team put their stamp on private residencies, retail stores and even theatre sets. The company also won a prestigious design award for Best Retail Store Of The Year in Porto Alegre’s Lindoia Shopping Centre which opened in 1994.

In 1993 Luigi's graduation project, Convento para Irmãs Carmelitas, was chosen as Universitário Ritter dos Reis' entry in Brazil's Opera Prima competition, an annual architectural event.

Luigi spent the majority of 1995 travelling across Italy, visiting relatives, and extensively researching classical architectural history. His last stop was London, where he settled to further his studies. A natural people person, Luigi spent time at Donna Karen and Prada, immersing himself in high-end design and developing his contacts in the world of international luxury.

Luigi joined Ralph Lauren’s London flagship store on New Bond Street in 2000. With his background in design, and key eye for detail, he was soon invited to take up the role of Interior Designer Consultant at Ralph Lauren’s new Brompton Cross Home Store. While working at Ralph Lauren, and surrounded by luxurious American design, Luigi cemented his fondness for playing with scale using over-sized furniture. Luigi remains a loyal advocate of Ralph Lauren, which he balances with complementary pieces from J Robert Scott and Baker Furniture in his projects.

In 2004 Luigi left Ralph Lauren to focus on his development as an interior designer. Coincidentally, one of his first design commissions drew heavily on his experiences at Ralph Lauren. The Golden Penthouse at the luxury Eagle Wharf apartments, overlooking the Thames River in Chelsea, was to be developed as an homage to Ralph Lauren. As well as selecting Ralph Lauren furniture, Luigi also researched and sourced a number of fine antique pieces to offset the strong lean towards Ralph Lauren. As such, Luigi achieved a contemporary look balanced with classical accents.

Another of Luigi's projects during this exciting period included the design of the renowned Katharine Pooley store on London’s exclusive Walton Street, which opened in 2004. In 2005, Luigi also designed Katharine Pooley’s stand for Decorex London. The popular stand won two coveted awards, including a British Institute of Interior Design Silver Swing Tag for Products of Outstanding Quality and Design Innovation for a set of elegant leather chairs Luigi personally sourced in Italy. Additional projects included two show apartments for a leading property developer, where Luigi's brief included furnishing the interiors purely in Pringle fabrics.

Following an established career as an interior designer, Luigi co-founded Casa Forma Limited in 2007 with entrepreneur Faiza Seth. The partnership saw Luigi's work reach an international level, with projects both in the UK and India. During his time at Casa Forma, Luigi designed a wide range of impressive projects, including a private polo club that once belonged to Middle-Eastern royalty, and Glebe Place. Once a young ladies finishing school in Chelsea, it was to be developed as an exclusive, gated apartment complex for security-conscious clients, designed by Foster + Partners, with the proposed interiors by Luigi.

In 2011 Casa Forma's work was shortlisted for 5 categories in the International Design and Architecture Awards 2011.

In September 2011 Luigi and Casa Forma’s former Operations Director Killian Thomas Lynch stepped back from Casa Forma to launch Oro Bianco Interior Design.

As well as newspaper and magazine coverage, such as IDFX, Luigi's work has featured in several interior design publications, including Stephanie Hoppen's Perfect Curtains and Perfect Neutrals, and Andrew Martin's Andrew Martin Interior Design Review, Volume 7.

• Luigi Esposito is a member of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), Membership Number 8080
• Luigi Esposito is a registered member of the Conselho Regional de Engenheiros e Arquitetos, the Brazilian certification board for engineers, architects and contractors