Mario Botta was born in Switzerland in 1943. Botta trained as a technical draftsman and was an assistant to Le Corbusier and later Louis Kahn. In 1970, he opened his own practice in Lugano, Switzerland. His approach is essentially modernist and he has been strongly influenced by both Carlo Scarpa and Louis Kahn. Botta's work is characterized by respect for topographical conditions and regional sensibilities and his designs generally emphasize craftsmanship and geometric order. He has attempted to reconcile traditional architectural symbolism with the aesthetic rules of the Modern Movement. Botta built exclusively in Switzerland during his early career, gaining international acclaim for such buildings as the Capuchin convent in Lugano, the Craft Centre in Balerna and the Administration Building for the Staatsbank in Fribourg.