Achille Castiglioni

Achille Castliglioni was born in Milan in 1918 and graduated in Architecture in 1944. Since 1940 he dedicated himself to experimenting on industrial products with his brothers Pier Giacomo and Livio. Their interests were directed towards Urban Planning, Architecture and Design. They carried out research on new forms, techniques and materials, aimed at developing a process of 'integral design'.

In 1969, Achille Castliglioni was nominated Professor of Artistic Industrial Design. He chaired the Faculty of Architecture in Turin until 1980 and taught in Milan until 1993 as Professor of Industrial Design at the Polytechnic of Milan.

MoMA's permanent collection in New York hosts 14 of his works. Other works may be found in the following museums: Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Kunstgewerbe Museum in Zurich, Staatliches Museum für Angewandte Kunst in Munich, Design Museum in Prato, Uneleckoprumyslove Museum in Prague, Israel Museum in Jerusalem, The Denver Art Museum, Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Angewandte Kunst Museum in Hamburg and Koln.

Very many objects designed by Achille Castiglioni have been produced by companies such as: Aerotecnica Italiana, Alessi, Aura, Brionvega, Bernini, B&B Italia, BBB Bonacina, Cedit, Cimbali, Danese, Driade, Feg, Flos, Fusital, Cassina, Gavina, Ideal Standard, Italtel, Il Coccio Umidificatori, Interflex, Lancia Auto, Longoni, Marcatrè, Moroso, Nagano, Olivetti Synthesis, Omsa, Ortotecnica, Phonola Radio, Poltrona Frau, Poggi, Phoebus Alter, Perani Fonderie, Rem, San Giorgio elettrodomestici, Teorema, Kartell, Up & Up, VLM, Zanotta.

Achille Castiglioni's professional activities spanned throughout the fields of Architecture and Urban Planning. He earned international recognitions for his projects in the fields of lighting fixtures and furniture as well as for his breathtaking installations realised around the world.

Awards and accolades include: nine Compasso d'Oro Awards; Honorary Member of the Committee of Advisors at Art Centre College of Design; Honorary Member of the Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry, Royal Society of Art (London); Honorary Degree from the Royal College of Art (London); Annual award from The Chartered Society of Designers (London), Primavera del Design Award from the Department of Culture (Catalonia), Art sur Table Award from the Conseil National des Art Culinaire (Paris), IF Design Wettbewerb Award from Industrie Forum Design (Hanover), Longevity-Langlebigkeit Award from Design Center (Stuttgart), Domus/INARCH 1998" Award from INARCH; Targa d´Oro Unione Italiana per il Disegno" Award from the Faculty of Architecture of Genoa; Wins the Enel "Sostegni per l´Ambiente" competition along with Michele De Lucchi; Industrial Design Honoris Causa Degree from the Polytechnic of Milan.

Achille Castiglioni died in Milan on December 2, 2002.

View the Achille Castiglioni collection available at Heal's.