On the occasion of the Week of the Italian Language in the World 2025, dedicated to the theme “Italophonia: The Italian Language Beyond Borders”, the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of Bangkok, presents the screening of the documentary Mario Botta. The Space Beyond, directed by Loretta Dalpozzo and Michèle Volontè.
Mario Botta. The Space Beyond (Switzerland, 2018, 77’) is an intimate and poetic journey into the creative universe of architect Mario Botta, one of the most prominent figures of modern architecture. The documentary explores the deep relationship between space and spirituality, highlighting Botta’s vision of architecture as a place of identity and encounter. The two Swiss directors lead the viewer through a journey spanning Switzerland, Italy, Israel, Korea, and China, where the architect’s works become a bridge between diverse cultures and sensibilities.
Premiered at the 71st Locarno Film Festival, the film was subsequently selected and acclaimed at numerous international festivals dedicated to art and architecture, including the FIFA – International Festival of Films on Art (Montréal), the Milano Design Film Festival, the Busto Arsizio Film Festival, the AFFR – Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam, Arcticinema, and the Master of Art Film Festival in Sofia. It also received the Audience Award at the Architecture Film Award, promoted by the Ordine degli Architetti of Milan, confirming its artistic significance and its ability to bring contemporary architecture closer to a wider audience.
This year’s edition of the Week celebrates the linguistic, cultural, and social space of the Italian language, envisioning a new global community united by a shared passion for Italian and, through it, a deeper connection to Italy itself. In this spirit of openness and dialogue, the screening illustrates how Italian creativity can speak to the world through the universal language of architecture, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.
The event is organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture of Chulalongkorn University, one of Thailand’s leading academic institutions, with the aim of fostering dialogue between architectural language, artistic vision, and contemporary Italian culture.
Venue: Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University