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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Achille Castiglioni

Achille Castiglioni
Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) was born in Milan, Italy, and received a degree in architecture in 1944. He worked with his brothers Livio and Pier Giacomo, directing their interests in the fields of urban planning, architecture and design.

Castiglioni dedicated his career to experimenting with industrial products, performing analysis and research on new forms, techniques and materials in the hopes of achieving "integral design."

In 1956 he was one of the founders of the Association for Design Industry. In 1969 he was named Professor of Artistic Industrial Design and chaired the Faculty of Architecture in Turin until 1980. He later taught at the Polytechnic of Milan as a professor of industrial design until 1993.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York hosts 14 of his works. Other works are housed in Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Kunstgewerbe Museum in Zurich, Staatliches Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Munich, Design Museum in Prato, Umeleckoprumyslove Museum in Prague, Israel Museum in Jerusalem, The Denver Art Museum, Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Angewandte Kunst Museum in Hamburg and Koln. He earned nine Compasso d'Oro, including a special award in 1989 for lifetime achievement.

Objects designed by Achille Castiglioni have been produced by Aerotecnica Italiana, Alessi, Aura, Brionvega, Bernini, B&B Italia, BBB Bonacina, Cedit, Cimbali, Danese, De Padova, Driade, Feg, Flos, Fusital, Cassina, Gavina, Ideal Standard, Italtel, Il Coccio Umidificatori, Interflex, Lancia Auto, Longoni, Marcatrè, Moroso, Nagano, Olivetti Synthesis, Omsa, Ortotecnica, Phonola Radio, Poltrona Frau, Poggi, Phoebus Alter, Perani Fonderie, Rem, San Giorgio elettrodomestici, Teorema, Kartell, Up & Up, VLM and Zanotta.

From achillecastiglioni.it

Arco floor lamp for Flos
design-conscious.co.uk

Fruit bowl/collander for Alessi
weddingshop.ie
Bavero tea set
objects.designapplause.com
Joy rotating shelves by Zanotta
edition20.com
Spirale ashtrays
owo.biz
Snoopy lamp
design-conscious.co.uk
San Carlo chair for Driade (reissued by Tacchini)
architonic.com
Splugen Brau pendant lamp
harrogatedesign.co.uk
Bottle opener
richmondcookshop.co.uk
Taraxacum light by Flos
edition20.com


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9 comments:

  1. I am a fan of Achille Castiglione. The pieces I've seen in the Alessi stores I've visited are just amazing. And the wristwatch I'm wearing right now is a Castiglione. ( :

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    1. I'm really tempted to buy his Alessi watch with the red leather band for myself. :)

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  2. What lovely stuff! My favorite has to be the Taraxacum light by Flos edition20.com
    *Gosh would I ever love to have that.

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    1. Isn't that Taraxacum exquisite? It gets its moniker from the scientific name for "dandelion." When you think about it, it really does resemble one, doesn't it?

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  3. Love all the pieces here, but particularly like the Joy rotating shelving. This really lends itself to a lot of uses and interpretations. I could see "borrowing" this idea and building something similar!!

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    1. I think those rotating shelves are about the coolest things ever!

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  4. LOVE LOVE LOVE the Arco lamp. I've been looking everywhere for a retro knockoff, but had to settle for a new Baxton Modern repro with a round base. Those things are a work of art!

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    1. We have a really cool one in our warehouse for $475.

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  5. At times i feel i was born in the wrong generation...never seem to connect with anything contemporary..but would have loved to live in the mid 50's :)

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