Designing for Everyday Life: The Legacy of Achille Castiglioni at Alessi
The Life and Work of Achille Castiglioni
Achille Castiglioni was an Italian industrial designer born in 1918. He studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano and started working in his family’s design firm in 1944. Achille Castiglioni considered his work as “re-designing” rather than designing products from scratch. His designs were often inspired by everyday objects, and he was known for his use of humor and irony in his designs.
Some of his most famous designs include the Arco lamp, the Taccia lamp, and the Sella stool. The Arco lamp, designed in 1962, is an iconic floor lamp with a curved stem that extends over a table or sofa. The Taccia lamp, designed in 1958, is a table lamp with a reflector made of blown glass that diffuses light. The Sella stool, designed in 1957, is a whimsical stool shaped like a bicycle saddle.
Alessi and Castiglioni’s Collaboration
Alessi is an Italian design company known for its innovative and modern designs. The company was founded in 1921 and started working with Achille Castiglioni in the 1980s. Castiglioni’s designs were a perfect fit for Alessi’s philosophy of creating functional and elegant products for everyday life.
Castiglioni’s collaboration with Alessi produced several iconic designs, including the iconic Alessi Juicy Salif citrus squeezer. The Juicy Salif was designed in 1990 and is one of the most popular and recognizable products designed by Castiglioni for Alessi. Castiglioni’s design looks like a sculpture, but it is a functional citrus squeezer that can extract fresh juice from lemons, limes, and oranges with ease.
The Impact of Castiglioni’s Designs
Achille Castiglioni’s designs for Alessi have had a significant impact on the world of industrial design. Castiglioni’s use of humor, irony, and everyday objects to design elegant products inspired a new generation of designers. His designs are still popular today, and many of them have become icons of industrial design.
Castiglioni’s legacy can be seen in the work of many contemporary designers who strive to create functional and elegant products for everyday life. Alessi continues to work with talented designers and artists to create innovative and modern designs that are a reflection of our changing world.
Achille Castiglioni’s collaboration with Alessi produced some of the most iconic designs of the 20th century. His designs for Alessi were a perfect fit for the company’s philosophy of creating functional and elegant products for everyday life. Castiglioni’s legacy can be seen in the work of many contemporary designers who strive to create designs that are both functional and elegant. Alessi continues to work with talented designers and artists to create innovative and modern designs that push the boundaries of industrial design.
