Alberto Rosselli (1921-76), Italian Architect and Industrial Designer

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.

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