Designer
Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1913–1968) was an Italian architect and designer, born in Milan on 22 April 1913, the second son of the sculptor Giannino Castiglioni. He graduated in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 1937 and opened…
Biography
Background
Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1913–1968) was an Italian architect and designer, born in Milan on 22 April 1913, the second son of the sculptor Giannino Castiglioni. He graduated in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 1937 and opened a practice with his brother Livio and Luigi Caccia Dominioni, which designed the first Italian Bakelite radio for Phonola.
Signature Style
After the war he was joined by his younger brother Achille; from 1952 or 1953, when Livio left, until his death the two worked as one team, and most of their designs cannot be attributed to either. His Mezzadro stool for Zanotta is based on Marcel Duchamp's idea of the ready-made.
Notable Works
- Turbino, Luminator, Toio and Arco (1962) lamps for Flos
- Spalter vacuum cleaner and Brionvega audio devices including the RR 126 radiogram
- Mezzadro stool for Zanotta (produced 1971)
Legacy
A founding member of the ADI (Associazione per il Disegno Industriale) in 1956, he taught at the Politecnico di Milano from 1964 to 1968. His work is in MoMA, the Centre Pompidou and the V&A.