Achille Castiglioni

Achille Castiglioni (; 16 February 1918 – 2 December 2002) was an Italian architect and designer of furniture, lighting, radiograms and other objects. As a professor of design, he advised his students "If you are not curious, forget it. If you are not interested in others, what they do and how they act, then being a designer is not the right job for you."

Early life and education

Castiglioni was born on 16 February 1918 in Milan, in Lombardy in northern Italy. He was the third son of the sculptor Giannino Castiglioni and his wife Livia Bolla. His elder brothers Livio and Pier Giacomo were both architects.

Castiglioni studied classics at the Liceo Classico Giuseppe Parini in Milan, but switched to study the arts at the Liceo artistico di Brera. In 1937 he enrolled in the faculty of architecture of the Politecnico di Milano. When the Second World War broke out, he became an officer in the artillery and was stationed on the Greek front and later in Sicily. He returned to Milan before the Allied invasion of Sicily of 1943. In March 1944 he graduated from the Politecnico.

Work and career

Following the war, Castiglioni returned to Milan and joined the architectural design practice that his brothers Livio and Pier Giacomo had started with Luigi Caccia Dominioni in 1938. Much of their work was in exhibition design, but they also carried out a number of architectural projects, including the reconstruction in 1952–53 of the , which had been destroyed by bombing in 1943.

Livio Castiglioni left the practice in 1952. From then until Pier Giacomo died in 1968, he and Achille worked as a team; their designs are not attributable to either one of them. Together, the brothers created a number of works that explored Marcel Duchamp's concept of the "ready-made" by incorporating and repurposing existing objects into new designs. After the death of Pier Giacomo, Castiglioni worked alone.

Together with Pier Giacomo, in 1957 he designed " Sella" and "Mezzadro" stools for Zanotta, as well as the "Cubo" couch for Arflex. In 1959, they began working with Kartell, designing lighting and furniture, including a collection of tables and stools called "Rochetto". The Castiglioni brothers designed the "Lierna" chair for Cassina, and the "Taraxacum" chandelier for in 1960. Also for Flos, in 1962 they designed both the "Toio" lamp, assembled from " ready-made" surplus hardware, and the "Arco" lamp, which consists of a long arched stainless-steel cantilevered support, an adjustable shade made of perforated spun aluminium, and a heavy marble base. These projects were followed in 1964 by the "Splüghen Braü" pendant light, and the " RR 126" radiogram for Brionvega.

From 1969 he taught architectural and design subjects, first at the Politecnico di Torino, and then, from 1980 when he became an ''ordinario'' or full professor, at the Politecnico di Milano.

Achille Castiglioni died in Milan in 2002.

Legacy

Throughout his lifetime, Castiglioni received many awards and distinctions for his designs, including eight Compasso d'Oro awards, as well as the Compasso d'Oro Career Award "for having raised design to the highest values of culture through his irreplaceable experience." His designs are held in museum collections around the world and several books have been published about his life and work.

In 1997, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York staged a retrospective of his life and work titled: "Achille Castiglioni: Design!". The exhibition was curated by Paola Antonelli, who also wrote the catalogue.

In 2014 the city of Milan named a street after the three Castiglioni brothers (Via Fratelli Castiglioni).

Archives and collections

The Studio Museum of the Achille Castiglioni foundation in Milan holds archival records of 191 architectural projects, 484 installation projects and 290 industrial design projects. A total of c. 11,500 technical drawings and freehand sketches is complemented by 130 plastic models, boxes and drawers containing photographs, slides, glass plates and negatives, videocassettes, DVDs, audio cassettes, extracts from magazines, books, catalogues, and objects collected by Achille Castiglioni.

Additional Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni works and archives are held by the University of Parma.

Museums which hold Castiglioni's works in their collections include the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, Kunstgewerbe Museum in Zurich, Staatliches Museum für angewandte Kunst in Munich, Design Museum in Prato, Israel Museum in Jerusalem, Denver Art Museum, Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Angewandte Kunst Museum in Hamburg and Cologne, and the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

Awards and honours

* 1947 Milan Triennale Bronze Medal
* 1951 Milan Triennale Grand Prix
* 1954 Milan Triennale Grand Prix
* 1955 Compasso d'oro Award, Luminator lamp (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1957 Milan Triennale Gold Medal
* 1957 Milan Triennale Silver Medal
* 1960 Compasso d'oro Award, T12 Palini chair (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni and Luigi Caccia Dominioni)
* 1960 Milan Triennale Gold Medal
* 1962 Compasso d'oro Award, l la caffè Pitagora (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1963 Milan Triennale Silver Medal
* 1964 Compasso d'oro Award, Spinamatic beer dispenser (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1967 Compasso d'oro Award, Phoebus headset for simultaneous translations (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1979 Compasso d'oro Award, Parentesi lamp
* 1979 Compasso d'oro Award, Omsa TR15 hospital bed (with Giancarlo Pozzi and Ernesto Zerbi)
* 1984 Compasso d'oro Award, Dry cutlery
* 1985 Honorary Member of the Advisory Committee, ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, California
* 1986 Honorary Member, Royal Designers for Industry of the British Royal Society of Arts
* 1987 Honorary Degree, Royal College of Art in London, UK
* 1989 Compasso d'Oro Career Award
* 1993 Annual Award, Chartered Society of Designers in London, UK
* 1994 Spring of Design Award, Department of Culture, Catalonia, Spain
* 1995 Art sur Table Prize, Conseil National des Art Culinaire, Paris, France
* 1996 IF Design Award from the International Forum Design, Hannover, Germany
* 1996 Longevity (Langlebigkeit) Award from the Design Center in Stuttgart, Germany
* 1999 Domus/INARCH, Lifetime Achievement Award, Milan, Italy
* 1999 "Targa d'Oro" Unione Italiana per il Disegno (UID), Faculty of Architecture, University of Genova, Italy
* 1999 First place in the Competition "Supports for the Environment" organized by Enel, with the Michele De Lucchi
* 2001 Honorary Degree in Industrial Design, Milan Polytechnic University (Politecnico di Milano), Italy

Partial list of works

Architecture

* 1952-1953 Torre del Palazzo della Permanente, Milan (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1956 Church of San Gabriele Arcangelo in Mater Dei, Milan (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1958 Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, Milan (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1960 Splüghen Braü brewery, Milan (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1968 Omega Shop, Piazza Duomo, Milan (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1969 Casa Castiglioni, Milan

Exhibition and interior design

* 1954 Industrial Design Pavilion, Palazzo dell'Arte Bernocchi, X Triennale, Milan (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1957 "Colour and Form in the Modern Home" exhibit, Villa Olmo Como, Italy (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1963 "Vie d'acqua da Milano al mare", Palazzo Reale, Milan (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1965 "La casa abitata", Palazzo Strozzi, Florence (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1984 "Achille Castiglioni", Austrian Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna
* 1988 "Le città del mondo e il futuro delle metropoli", XVII Triennale, Palazzo dell'arte, Milan
* 1995 "A la Castiglioni", Centre d'Art Santa Monica, Barcellona


X Triennale di Milano, 1954 Palazzo dell'Arte Bernocchi. Photography Paolo Monti.">
File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Milano, 1954) - BEIC 6365699.jpg
File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Milano, 1954) - BEIC 6347052.jpg
File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico (Milano, 1954) - BEIC 6347070.jpg
File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico - BEIC 6347022.jpg
File:Paolo Monti - Servizio fotografico - BEIC 6365553.jpg, Scale model

Industrial, product, lighting, and furniture design

* 1956 ''Spalter'' vacuum cleaner for R.E.M. (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1957 ''Saliscendi'' pendant lamp for Stilnovo (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1957 ''Sella'' stool for Zanotta (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni) (pictured)
* 1957 ''Mezzadro'' stool for Zanotta (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni) (pictured)
* 1957 ''Cubo'' couch and armchair collection for Arflex, and subsequently Meritalia (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1959 ''Lierna'' chair for Cassina e Gavina, and subsequently reissued in 2014 by the Fondazione Castiglioni (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1959 ''Dolce'' cutlery for Reed & Barton, and subsequently reissued as ''Grand Prix'' in 1996 by Alessi (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1960 ''Sanluca'' lounge chair for Gavina, and subsequently Knoll, Bernini, then Poltrona Frau (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1960 ''Taraxacum'' chandelier for Heisenkeil, and subsequently Flos (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1962 ''Gatto'' ''Gatto Piccolo'', table lamps for Heisenkeil, and subsequently Flos (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1962 ''Sleek'' serving spoons for Kraft and Alessi, (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1962 ''Toio'' floor lamp Flos, (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1962 ''Taccia'' table lamp Flos, (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1962 ''Arco'' floor lamp for Flos (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1964 ''Splüghen Braü'' pendant light for Flos (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1964 ''RR 126'' radiogram for Brionvega (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni) (pictured)
* 1965 ''Orseggi'' glasses, carafe, and decanter for Arnolfo di Cambio e Alessi (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1965 ''Firenze'' wall clock for Lorenz e Alessi (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1965 ''Tric'', folding chair for BBB (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1966 ''Allunaggio'' chair for Zanotta (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1967 ''Snoopy'' table lamp for Flos (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1968 ''Interruttore Rompitratta'' electric switch (with Pier Giacomo Castiglioni)
* 1970 ''Primate'' chair for Zanotta
* 1970 ''Parentesi'' suspension light for Flos
* 1971 ''Spirale'' ashtray for Alessi
* 1972 ''Lampadina'' table lamp for Flos
* 1972 ''Noce'' table and wall lamp for Flos
* 1975 ''Aoy'' table lamp for Flos
* 1976 ''Bibip'' floor lamp for Flos
* 1977 ''Cumano'' tripod table for Zanotta
* 1978 ''Frisbi'' suspention lamp Flos
* 1979 ''Ginevra'' folding chair BBB
* 1980 ''Gibigiana'' table lamp for Flos
* 1982 ''Dry'' silverware for Alessi
* 1982 ''Moni'' lamp for Flos
* 1982 ''Giovi'' lamp for Flos
* 1983 ''Paro'' Glassware for Danese
* 1983 ''Ovio'' Glasses and Caraffe for Danese
* 1984 ''Stylos'', floor lamp for Flos
* 1987 ''Basello'' small table
* 1988 ''Taraxacum88'' floor lamp for Flos
* 1989 ''Record'' wristwatch for Alessi (pictured)
* 1990 ''Joy'' furniture for Zanotta
* 1992 ''Brera'' lamp for Flos
* 1995 ''Fruttiera scolatoio'' fruit bowl for Alessi
* 1995 ''Tavolo 95'' table for De Padova
* 1995 ''Mate'',''Supremate'', and ''Minimate'', vases for De Padova
* 1996 ''Scrittarello'' writing desk for De Padova
* 1996 ''Fucsia'' lighting collection for Flos
* 1997 ''Bavero'' tableware for Alessi
* 1998 ''Diabolo'' lamp for Flos
* 2001 ''CENTO3'' writing instruments, posthumously produced by EGO.M (with Gianfranco Cavaglià)

Publications

* Ferrari, P., ''Achille Castiglioni'', Electa, Milan, 1984. . .
* Sparke, P. ''Design in Italy: 1870 to the present,'' Abbeville Press, New York, 1988. . .
* Antonelli, P., Guernaccia, S., ''Achille Castiglioni'', Edizioni Corraini, Mantova, 2000. . .
* Dardi, D., Achille Castiglioni, Testo & Immagine, Torino, 2001
* Polano, S., Achille Castiglioni tutte le opere 1938-2000, Electa, Milano, 2001
* Cavaglia, G., Di Achille Castiglioni, Edizioni Corraini, Mantova, 2006
* Taki, Y., Design as a Quest for Freedom, Axis, 2007
* Vercelloni, M., Achille e Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, 24 Ore Cultura, Milano, 2011
* Bettinelli, E., La voce del Maestro. Achille Castiglioni, Edizioni Corraini, Mantova 2014. . .
* Dizionario enciclopedico di architettura e urbanistica, Istituto Editoriale Romano, Roma, 1969, vol. III, 510
* MacMillan Encyclopedia of Architects, The Free Press, New York, 1982, 392
* Dizionario dell'architettura del XX secolo, a cura di C. OLMO, Allemandi, Torino, 2000, 34-36
* Gli archivi di architettura in Lombardia. Censimento delle fonti, a cura di G.L. CIAGA', CASVA - Centro di Alti Studi sulle Arti Visive, con la collaborazione della Soprintendenza archivistica della Lombardia e del Politecnico di Milano, Milano, 2003., 56
* Gli archivi di architettura design e grafica in Lombardia. Censimento delle fonti, a cura di G. L. CIAGA', CASVA - Centro di Alti Studi sulle Arti Visive (Quaderni del CASVA, 11), con la collaborazione della Soprintendenza archivistica della Lombardia e del Politecnico di Milano, Milano, 2012

References

External links

*

Foundation Achille Castiglinoi

Achille Castiglioni speech
(''transcription, in Italian'') International Design Conference, Aspen, Colorado (1989)

"Achille e Pier Giacomo Castiglioni"
RAI Television documentary, Part One (''in Italian'')


RAI Television documentary, Part Two (''in Italian'')


Domus magazine

"100 Years of Castiglioni: His Geologist Daughter Digs into the Designer's Layered Legacy"

Arco Lamp assembly
short film (''narration in French'')

{{DEFAULTSORT:Castiglioni, Achille
1918 births
2002 deaths
Polytechnic University of Milan alumni
Polytechnic University of Milan faculty
Royal Designers for Industry
Architects from Milan
Italian furniture designers
Italian industrial designers
Italian designers
Product designers
Lighting designers
Designers
Compasso d'Oro Award recipients