Working with space and light as sculptural materials, Michael Gabellini constructs architectural settings that concentrate the experiential and functional to create spaces of elemental simplicity. As founder and creative director of Gabellini Sheppard since 1991, he has developed aspirational projects that are conceived as spatial portraits reflecting the clients’ lifestyles and needs, imparting a distinct identity to each. Gabellini has designed signature boutiques and large-scale retail centers for Jil Sander, Giorgio Armani, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Westfield, among many others. He has directed condominium and hotel interior design projects for Ian Schrager, Tishman Speyer, the Related Group, Sumaida + Khurana, Marriott International, and The Four Seasons. His expertise and passion for contemporary art have earned commissions from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Cooper-Hewiitt National Design Museum, and his respect for and knowledge of architectural history have resulted in the successful preservation and adaptive reuse of historic landmarks such as the Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock and Rainbow Room.
Gabellini is a registered architect in New York and Nevada and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He has won numerous awards from professional organizations including the Progressive Architecture Award, the National Design Award in Interior Design from the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and the Interior Design Hall of Fame award, and he has lectured at academic institutions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.