Lanfranco Cirillo
Lanfranco Cirillo | |
---|---|
Born | Treviso, Italy | 30 May 1959
Nationality |
|
Occupations |
|
Spouse | Married
|
Practice | Masterskaja architectural office |
Lanfranco Cirillo (born 30 May 1959) is a Russian architect of Italian origin, residing in Moscow and Dubai.
He is a founder and a co-owner of an architectural studio Masterskaja in Moscow.[1]
In 2014, he received Russian citizenship after more than 20 years of residence in the country.[2]
Early life
Lanfranco Cirillo was born in Venice in 1959.[3] His father Enrico was a high-ranking officer in the Italian army,[citation needed] and Lanfranco was educated between Treviso[citation needed] and Venice.[3]
Unternehmertum
Architecture studio Masterskaja
In 1995, Cirillo opened his architectural studio on Arbat in the historic center of Moscow.[4]
In the special issue "Russia-Italia" of the business magazine Milano Finanza International, Cirillo reported that after one year in business he had already earned $15 million.[5] After that, Masterskaja's annual turnover was $30–40 million.[3]
As architect, interior designer, and "lifestyle teacher to the nouveau riche," he has built and furnished dachas and villas. Among his clients have been 44 billionaires (US-Dollar) from Russia's Forbes list. Cirillo has worked for them on projects in St. Petersburg, London, Paris and in various resorts.[citation needed]
In 2016 Cirillo's company Masterskaja reached the final round of the architectural competition for the design of the new parliamentary center in Moscow.[6] According to the plan, the complex was to unite the buildings of the State Duma and the Federation Council and be located near the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain in Moscow. The idea of the parliamentary center was eventually abandoned.[3]
Cirillo gained international attention as an architect when Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny posted a YouTube video of President Putin's alleged "New Versailles" in early 2021.[7][8][9] The press reported that the public stir this video caused had brought him to the attention of Italian tax authorities.[10] Since 2022, Cirillo has been under investigation for tax offenses in Italy during 2013 to 2019 with assets totaling 141 million euros having been seized from him as part of the investigation.[11]
According to media reports, Cirillo expressed surprise at having to face such a controversy after living and working in Russia for more than 20 years. In an interview, he said, "I am proud to have created significant works in Russia, commissioned dozens of Italian companies, and brought the best of Italian excellence into the homes of many of the most important and influential people. Nevertheless, with serenity and confidence, I have already begun to work personally with the Magistrate. And I will continue to do so until my position is fully clarified." Cirillo's lawyers said in February 2022 that the businessman was able to provide documents and testimony to prove that his income was earned outside Italy and therefore should not have been taxed there.[12] Accordingly, the circumstances "seem inconsistent with the hypothesis of his fictitious residence in the Russian Federation and with the claim that the architect should have declared his income in Italy."[13]
Viticulture
In May 2016, Cirillo announced plans to build a winery and agrotourism project near Anapa. As of February of that year, he was a 50 percent owner of Anapa-based Shumrinka LLC, according to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities.[14] His business partner was Alexander Kislitsyn, the former head of Lukoil-Inform. The company's main activity is growing grapes.[15] Shumrinka has about 400 hectares of land near the village of Gai-Kodzor for vineyards and related infrastructure. In addition to viticulture, the partners also wanted to develop agrotourism. Cirillo said they planned to create "a small Tuscan village" near Anapa.
According to Cirillo, the company aimed to reach a production volume of 1 million bottles per year by 2021, producing 300-500 thousand bottles of the best brands.[16] Meanwhile, the company has expanded its production and built a new warehouse. At the end of 2020, the winery became a partner of the Milstream winery as part of the Unique Russian Winemaking project.[3]
In 2021, Schumrinka wines ranked 50th in the Forbes ranking.[17]
Philanthropy
Lanfranco Cirillo lives between Moscow and Dubai, traveling the world for charity projects and polar expeditions. After the illness and death of his daughter Elisabetta, he decided to "do something for the next generation".[3]
Elisabetta Cirillo died in 2019 at the age of only 33 after a long serious illness. As a well-known author and blogger, she reported day after day about her life and her fight against cancer. In her posts, she told of the long days in the hospital, treatments, hopes and fears, successes and relapses. Despite her illness, she led an active and cosmopolitan life between New Zealand, South Africa, New York and Russia. Still in 2019, she got married.[18]
Since then and in memory of his late daughter, Lanfranco Cirillo has been campaigning for sustainability and environmental protection, issues that were close to her heart. Among other things, he is trying to bring the Pope to the North Pole to draw attention to the destruction of the Arctic.[2]
Cirillo is involved in an international foundation that researches climate change in the polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctic. To this end, the organization works with the Barneo base near the North Pole.[3] Cirillo also traveled to Africa to address the problem of rainforest deforestation in Guinea on behalf of an initiative.[3]
Interests
Lanfranco Cirillo is a great sailing enthusiast.[19] In 2016, Cirillo was named "Patron of the Year" by Proyachting for his support of the Russian Olympic sailing team. And the Russian Sailing Federation reported that a project for the "comprehensive development and creation of a sailing center in Gelendzhik" is under preparation with his participation.[3] As the main sponsor of the Russian team in the Finn class, he has made a significant contribution to the preparation of the Olympic sailing team.[20] His Fantastica team has celebrated great success in the Melges 32 class in recent years, winning the world title in 2013.[21]
In an interview and video report by Dozhd TV channel, Cirillo declared to be a sponsor of the yacht club and to support the Russian Orthodox Church, although he himself is a Catholic. It was said that Cirillo, a Catholic, sponsors the Russian Church when necessary. In Russia, such support is also considered a sign of success. In general, the Italian-born gave the impression of a man who knows very well how life works in Russia.[22]
References
- ^ Albats, Evgeniya; Osipova, Olga; Beshley, Olga (27 April 2012). "Параллельная реальность - "Дворец Путина" и пределы Матрицы" [Parallel Reality - "Putin's palace" and the limits of the Matrix]. newtimes.ru. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ a b Esch, Christian (24 February 2021). "The Man Who Built the Billion Dollar Palace". Der Spiegel. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i Sechina, Anastasia; Sokolov, Vladimir; Kovalev, Alexei (3 February 2021). ""Я любил эту страну. И почему теперь я самый последний бандит, блин?" Архитектор "дворца Путина" Ланфранко Чирилло рассказал "Медузе" о своей карьере в России — и о том, как грустно она завершилась" ["I loved this country. And why am I the last bandit now, man?" Lanfranco Cirillo, the architect of "Putin's palace," told Meduza about his career in Russia - and how it ended sadly]. Meduza. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Schreck, Karl; Sharogradsky, Andrej (20 January 2021). "Архитектор "Дворца Путина". Загадки карьеры Ланфранко Чирилло" [The architect of "Putin's Palace". The mysteries of Lanfranco Cirillo's career]. Svoboda. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Sovina, Marina (3 August 2022). "В Италии арестовали имущество имеющего гражданство России архитектора" [In Italy the property of an architect with Russian citizenship was seized]. Lenta.ru.
- ^ Davis, Ben (26 January 2021). "Revelations About 'Putin's Palace' Helped Spark Widespread Protests in Russia. Here's What's Inside His Secret 'New Versailles'". Artnet. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Navalny, Alexei (17 January 2021). "Дворец для Путина. История самой большой взятки" [A Palace for Putin. The Story of the Biggest Bribe]. Youtube. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ Navalny, Alexei (17 January 2021). "Дворец для Путина" [A Palace for Putin]. Navalny.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Goldstein, Caroline (5 August 2022). "Italian Authorities Just Seized $144 Million in Art From Vladimir Putin's Favorite Architect". Robb Report. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Putin's Architect: Who is Lanfranco Cirillo?". Rehs. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Polyakova, Viktoria (3 August 2022). "В Италии арестовали имущество архитектора "дворца" под Геленджиком" [Italy arrested the property of the architect of the "palace" near Gelendzhik]. RBC.ru. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Lanfranco Cirillo, indagato "l'architetto di Putin": nascosti 50 milioni al Fisco. Sequestrate le tele di Picasso, Cezanne e Kandinsky" [Lanfranco Cirillo, "Putin's architect" investigated: hid 50 million from the IRS. Picasso, Cezanne and Kandinsky canvases seized]. Il Messaggero. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Napalkova, Anastasia; Puzyrev, Denis (23 May 2016). "Получивший гражданство от Путина архитектор займется виноделием в Анапе" [Architect, who received his citizenship from Putin, will start winemaking in Anapa]. RBC.ru. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Архитектор "дворца Путина" займется виноделием в Анапе" [Architect of "Putin's Palace" will take up winemaking in Anapa]. Forbes.ru. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Очень тихие вина: кому принадлежат VIP-винодельни в Краснодарском крае" [Very quiet wines: who owns VIP wineries in the Krasnodar region]. RBC.ru. 14 May 2019. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Лучшая часть: кубанские вина заняли более половины рейтинга Forbes" [The best part: Kuban wines took more than half of Forbes rating]. RBC.ru. 14 December 2021. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Gheda, Valentina (19 October 2019). "Morta Elisabetta Cirillo, raccontava in un blog la sua battaglia contro il cancro" [Died Elisabetta Cirillo, blogged about her battle with cancer]. Corriere della sera. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "L'uomo di fiducia dello "zar" che ha fatto bello il Cremlino" [The "czar's" trusted man who made the Kremlin beautiful]. Bresciaoggi. 4 August 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Подведены итоги премии "PROyachting. ЧЕЛОВЕК ГОДА-2016"" [The results of the "PROyachting. MAN OF THE YEAR 2016" have been announced]. Korabel.ru. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Поздравляем с днем рождения Ланфранко Чирилло!" [Happy birthday, Lanfranco Cirillo!]. RUSYF (All-Russia Sailing Federation). 30 May 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chepel, Rodion (13 March 2016). "Он проектировал дворцы для Путина и олигархов. Первое видеоинтервью архитектора Ланфранко Чирилло" [He has designed palaces for Putin and the oligarchs. The first video interview with architect Lanfranco Cirillo]. tvrain.ru. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link)