Vico Magistretti

Olivari Designers

MILANO, 1921-2006

A student of Ernesto Nathan Rogers, Magistretti learns his job in his father’s studio. He constructs numerous buildings in his hometown of Milan, such as the church of the QT8 neighborhood (1953), the Torre al Parco (1956), and the houses in Piazza San Marco (1965) and Piazza Aquileia (1961).

— Eclissi lampada, Artemide 1967
— Vico Magistretti

He becomes famous at the 1959 CIAM when one of his villas in Arenzano causes a sensation over its mix of modernist and vernacular elements.

— Selene sedia, Artemide 1968
— Maralunga divano, Cassina 1973

Nonetheless, Magistretti is mainly remembered as a furniture designer; some pieces are celebrated as icons of Made in Italy: his Carimate chair, (1960) his Maralunga sofa (1973) and the Nuvola Rossa bookshelf (1977) for Cassina; his Eclisse lamp (Golden Compass Award 1967) and Selene chair (1969) for Artemide.

— Atollo lampada/light, O-luce 1977
— Nuvola Rossa libreria, Cassina 1977