Alberto Rosselli (1921-76) Italian architect and industrial designer. He was professionally active in Milan. He was born in Palermo.
Education
1938-39, he studied engineering.
1945-47, architecture, Politecnico di Milano.
Biography
In 1950, Rosselli, Gio Ponti and Antonio Fornaroli established the architecture and design firm Studio PFR. They produced notable structures, including the 1956 Pirelli tower in Milan.
Active concurrently, in 1955, he opened his own office in Milan. He designed transportation for Fiat-Orlandi, appliances, furniture for Arflex, Bonacina, Kartell, and Saporiti, electric clocks and domestic appliances, bathroom fixtures, lighting for Fontana Arte, metalwork, glassware for Salviati, and ceramics for Cesame.
Academia
- 1963-76, he taught industrial design, Politecnico di Milano;
- in 1956, was president of ADI (Associazione per ii Disegno lndustriale);
- 1961-63, was vice-president of ICSID; and,
- In 1963 he became an industrial design assistant professor at the Politecnico di Milano.
In 1957, he developed an interest in plastics, his first design in the medium being a bathroom unit for Montecatini.
He was a member of the 1968 (XIV) Triennale di Milano committee and a founder of the journal Stile Industria, where he was editor 1953-63. Its focus on visual detail helped elevate even the most mundane utilitarian objects to the realm of art. It was a key factor in establishing Italian design’s international reputation, both aesthetically and intellectually.
One of his best-known designs, the colourful and lightweight 1970 one-piece fibreglass Jumbo Chair, was produced 1970-78 by Saporiti; it looked like a shoe in silhouette and was related to his 1969 Moby Dick chaise longue.
His architectural works included the Corriere della Sera newspaper building.
Recognition
- He received gold medals in 1954 (X), 1957 (XI), and 1960 (XII) Triennali di Milano.
- The Jumbo Chair was shown at the 1967 Milano International Furniture Exhibition, the 1970 ‘Modern Chairs 1918-1970’ exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in London, and the 1983-84 ‘Design Since 1945’ exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
- He received 1957 Compasso d’Oro for his Meteor motor-coach for Fiat-Orlandi.
Additional Works
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Italian Culture. (2000). United Kingdom: Routledge.
Design Store
Books| Italian Furniture
POLY & BARK Cognac Tan Brown Leather Couch - 88.5" Mid Century Leather Sofa with 2 Bolsters - Full Grain Camel Leather Couch - Feather-Down Topper On Seating Surface - Pure-Aniline Italian Leather
POLY & BARK Napa Furniture, 88.5 inches, Midnight Blue
$1,895.00 (as of April 19, 2024 09:29 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
500 Years of Italian Furniture: Magnificence and Design
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Radical: Italian Design 1965–1985, The Dennis Freedman Collection
1968: Radical Italian Design: Photographs by Maurizio Cattelan & Pieropaolo Ferrari
$80.00 (as of April 19, 2024 03:07 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Maria Cristina Didero
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Inside Milan: Colorfully Creative Italian Interiors
Italian Design (MoMA Design)
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Giampiero Bosoni
(as of April 19, 2024 03:07 GMT +10:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)More Italian Designers
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