Legendary Italian Architect and Designer Alessandro Mendini Dies at 87
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Alessandro Mendini, the renowned Italian architect and designer known for his famous Proust Armchair and the Groninger Museum, has passed away aged 87.Born in Milan in 1931, Mendini played a crucial role in the development of Italian, Postmodern, and RadicalLegendary Italian Architect and Designer Alessandro Mendini Dies at 87
Alessandro Mendini, the renowned Italian architect and designer known for his famous Proust Armchair and the Groninger Museum, has passed away aged 87.Born in Milan in 1931, Mendini played a crucial role in the development of Italian, Postmodern, and Radical design during his career. Early in his career, in the 1970s, Mendini emerged as one of the pioneers of the radical design movement along with Andrea Branzi and Ettore Sottsass. In 1979, he joined Alchimia Studio where he created furniture, paintings, installations, objects, as well as several architectural works. A significant work from this period is the famous Proust Armchair from Alchimia design editions, which has been called the “most iconic and revolutionary chairs of the 20th-century.” The baroque shaped chair features a pointillist surface pattern, with its frame and upholstery covered in hundreds of tiny hand-painted dots.In 1989, he set up his own architectural practice, Atelier Mendini, with his brother Francesco. One of his significant projects from this period is the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands, which has a striking presence with its vibrant yellow tower. Other works include Museo di Omegna in northern Italy, and the Teatro della Bicchieraia theater complex in central Italy, the Tower of Paradise in Hiroshima, and the Alessi factories.During his lifetime, Mendini also served as editor of Italian design magazines Casabella, Modo, and Domus. Winner of the two Golden Compasses in 1979 and 1981, Mendini was also awarded an honorary degree from the Politecnico di Milano, the European Prize for Architecture Awards in 2014 and was named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in France.The architect, designer, painter, theorist, and journalist had once said: “As far as I am concerned, it is not design that interests me: I use design not as a means to an end, but in order to carry out my natural vital role, which is to produce images.” https://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more