Libero Cecchini Biography
Libero Cecchini was born in Pastrengo (Verona) on 28 September 1919. He came from a family of artisans specialized in working marble, so he decided to attend the Paolo Brenzoni art school in San Giorgio di Valpolicella. During this period, he participated in several art exhibitions with some of his sculptures, for which he received some awards. Subsequently, he decided to attend art high school in Verona with the aim of becoming a sculptor. However, one of his professors convinced him to enroll in the Faculty of Architecture of the Polytechnic of Milan, where he graduated in November 1944. The following year, he enrolled in the Verona architects' register.
Libero Cecchini worked on the reconstruction of the bridges of Verona, destroyed during the German retreat from northern Italy, and began his career at the Superintendence of Monuments of Verona, for which he worked until 1966. During this period, he also created urban planning plans to contribute to the post-war reconstruction. Starting from 1966, he dedicated himself mainly to freelance work, creating important works in the field of public construction, such as the Verona chamber of commerce and the financial offices of Verona, as well as schools, public housing and facilities for the elderly. However, he continued to cultivate his passion for sculpture, creating works in marble, bronze and wood.
In the eighties, Libero Cecchini carried out important restoration projects, including those relating to the Basilica of San Zeno, Porta Leoni, Palazzo Forti and the Scavi Scaligeri. In 1996, he founded Studio Libero e Vittorio Cecchini Architetti Associati together with his son, participating in numerous national and international competitions.
In his works, it is possible to notice the influence of the material plasticism of Le Corbusier and the spatiality of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. His conception of the relationship between nature, history and architecture is close to the organicism of Wright and Aalto
