MATISSE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Designer
- Director of Maxalto, Arclinea and Azucena
Born in 1950 in the north Italian city of Meda (Milano), Antonio Citterio opened his first office at the age of just 22 in 1972, before he had even completed his architecture degree in Milan. Shortly after, he worked with Terry Dwan, designing building across Japan and Europe.
The early 2000s came with "Antoinio Citterio Patricia Veil", a studio for architecture and interior design, which he founded alongside Patricia Veil. This served as a practice for developing international complex long-term projects, at all scales and in synergy with a qualified network of specialist consultants. Today, this has expanded into numerous foreign and Italian companies.
Since the 1990s at the latest, the successful architect has also been one of the most internationally sought-after designers, as is clear from the portfolio of renowned companies for which he works: world leading design brands such as Vitra and B&B Italia (furniture), Arclinea (kitchens) and Hansgrohe (bathrooms), all successfully implement his ideas. However, project developers and hotel chains also benefit from the Milan-based designer's esprit and design ideas. Citterio's CV is adorned with luxury lodgings for the prestigious Bulgari hotel chain, a luxury spa in Moscow and the title 'Royal Designer', which has been awarded to him by the British Royal Society.
In 1987 and in 1994 he was awarded the Compasso d'Oro-ADI. From 2006 to 2016 he has been professor of Architectural Design at the Mendrisio Academy of Architecture (Switzerland). In 2008 he was honoured by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce of London, which gave him the title of "Royal Designer for Industry".
Marcel Wanders opened his studio in 1996 in Amsterdam and is currently located in the pulsating heart of the Plantage neighbourhood. Though the studio was born in Amsterdam, none of its people is born local. So, strangers to the city, we feel welcomed and grateful for all the city's gifts; it's great architecture, biking culture, iconic canals, history, openness and tolerance, and so much more. Therefore, while living here, it is our honour and pleasure to contribute to this great humanistic city and give back the best we can give. This deeply respectful connection to the city is celebrated with the institution of the Westerhuis (2006), a building for the creative industries, the publication of ‘Amsterdam Creative Capital' (2009), the opening of the ‘Andaz Prinsengracht Amsterdam' (2012) and the creation of ‘Rijks, Masters of the Golden Age' (2016), a ground-breaking homage to 17th Century Dutch masterpieces from the Gallery of Honour in the Rijksmuseum. THNK (2010), School for Creative Leadership, and the Club of Twelve (2005) represent additional intellectual circles and think-tanks that push city-minded cultural initiatives, of which Marcel Wanders is co-founder and plays a key role.
Architect, designer and university lecturer, Marco Zanuso (1916-2001) was one of the leading interpreters of the Modern Movement.
He trained at the Polytechnic University of Milan and, in the immediate post-war years, was the co-editor of the Domus magazine with Ernesto N. Rogers. He was awarded the Medaglia d'oro and the Gran Premio at the Milan Triennale on a number of occasions (VIII, IX, X, XI and XIII editions), and won five Compassi d'Oro between 1956 and 1985.Zanuso was one of the first designers in Italy to take an interest in the problems of product industrialization, going beyond aesthetic issues to incorporate technological, industrial, distribution and communication variables. According to Zanuso, the form of an object destined for serial reproduction is an amalgam of opportunities, experimentation and innovation in the concrete process that connects creativity, production and the social and cultural context.
Mario Bellini is an architect and designer internationally renowned. He received the Golden Compass Award eight times and 25 of his works are in the permanent design collection of the New York MoMA, which dedicated to him a personal retrospective in 1987.
He was editor of Domus magazine (1985-1991) and has designed countless art, design and architecture exhibitions over the years, both in Italy and abroad.
In 2015 the Milan Triennale awarded him the Gold Medal for his career in architecture and in 2017 dedicated him a retrospective exhibition which was then the subject of a world tour. Since 1980, he has mainly devoted himself to architecture with numerous prestigious creations including: the Portello Trade Fair district in Milan, the Villa Erba Exhibition and Convention Centre in Cernobbio (Como), the Tokyo Design Centre in Japan, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre in Paris, the new Milan Convention Centre, the new international Airterminal T3 in Rome Fiumicino.
Urquiola is known internationally, her stunning designs are youthful, creative and colourful. Her style of playful forms and equally functional practically is a magic combination; a reminder of the past and exploration into the now.
Patricia Urquiola studied architecture and design at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and completed her studies at the Politecnico di Milano where she graduated under the mentorship of Achille Castiglioni. In Spain, she was awarded the Golden Medal for Merits in Art and received the Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
Her designs are of a clean and unique quality. Each original creation is a pinnacle for significant and importantant international brands and firms. For example, her contribution of the Maia collection, one of her most characteristic works, for Kettal, is highly regarded.
When it comes to working with other designers Patricia Urquiola has definitely socialized with many relevant design figures in the industry. Aside from Achille Castiglioni, Piero Lissoni and Vico Magistretti, she also recently cooperated with Rossana Orlandi on an ironic daybed, more specifically the Wasting Time Daybed, that is made out of recycled plastics
Patricia Urquiola studied architecture and design at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and completed her studies at the Politecnico di Milano where she graduated under the mentorship of Achille Castiglioni. In Spain, she was awarded the Golden Medal for Merits in Art and received the Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
Her designs are of a clean and unique quality. Each original creation is a pinnacle for significant and importantant international brands and firms. For example, her contribution of the Maia collection, one of her most characteristic works, for Kettal, is highly regarded.
When it comes to working with other designers Patricia Urquiola has definitely socialized with many relevant design figures in the industry. Aside from Achille Castiglioni, Piero Lissoni and Vico Magistretti, she also recently cooperated with Rossana Orlandi on an ironic daybed, more specifically the Wasting Time Daybed, that is made out of recycled plastics
In 2001 she founded her own studio where she specialized in industrial product design, architecture (hotel trade, retail, homes, exhibitions and installations), art direction and strategy consulting. She works with important design companies and international groups, and is part of the advisory board of the Politecnico of Milan university and the Triennale Milano Design Museum. She taught the master's degree in Interior Design at the Domus Academy in Milan (2013-2015) and has given lectures at prestigious international universities.
She has also given talks at countless cultural events and her work is exhibited in many art and design museums across the world, including the MOMA in New York, the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, the Triennale Museum in Milan, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, to name a few. She has been named Designer of the Year by many international magazines.
Patricia Urquiola has also cooperated with top bespoke brands which include Alessi, B&B Italia, De Padova, Flos, Foscarini, Glas Italia, Kartell, Maurice Lacroix, Liv'it, Moroso, Mutina, Panasonic, Paola Lenti, among many others.
Job Titles:
- Creative Director
- Designer
Piero Lissoni is creative director for many design companies, including B&B Italia, for whom he also designs an extensive range of products. Recognized as one of the masters of contemporary design, he has worked with many international brands.
Tobia Scarpa was born in Venice in 1935, where he graduated in architecture. With his wife Afra Bianchin (1937-2011) he sets up one of the most successful and well-known professional studio; together they sign many innovative projects on the industrial design scene.
In 1970 he was awarded the Compasso d'Oro, creating an area of great interest around his work. Among the many furnishings that he designs for B&B Italia, one of the best known is the Coronado sofa (1966). For Maxalto he designs an entire collection of furniture with precious materials. For years he has been involved in the image of Benetton stores in Europe and the United States. In the field of architecture, he designs the entire Benetton's production-management center and the company's headquarters in Treviso. He realizes many private residences and follows the restoration of historical-monumental assets such as the museums of Mercato Vecchio in Verona and the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice. He takes care of setting up permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Among the various awards received, in 2008 he was awarded the Compasso d'Oro for lifetime achievement. Numerous are the publications dedicated to his work and a number of his projects are exhibited in major international museums.