| vico magistretti . interview with the wellknown italian designer about architecture, design ............................................................................................... | |||
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| vico magistretti was born in milan on october 6th 1920 and graduated in architecture in 1945. he then joined his father's studio and from 1948 onwards took part in various editions of the milan triennial exhibition. He has won a number of prizes and awards: the gold medal at the 9th edition of the triennial (1951); the grand prix at the 10th edition of the triennial (1954); two compassi d'Oro (1967 and 1979); the gold medal of S.I.A.D. society of industrial artists & designers (1986). In the 60's he began designing series production furniture, creating the first plastic chair, but this reached the production lines only in 1967. most of his lamps and furniture have been best sellers and also long sellers. his works have been displayed in the major design exhibitions throughout europe usa and japan and are included in the permanent exhibitions of the world's most important museums. twelve of his creations are part of the permanent collection of M.O.M.A. in new york. he is a member of the academy san luca in rome; he is an honorary member and honorary visiting professor of the london royal college of art, and was nominated royal designer for industry by the royal soceity of arts. he is an honorary member of the royal scottish incorporation of architects. --- more info on the design work of vico magistretti http://www.artemide.it http://www.campeggisrl.it http://www.cassina.it http://www.depadova.it http://www.flou.it http://ww.fritzhansen.com http://ww.kartell.it http://ww.schiffini.it --- february 2003 this was designboom's first interview (march 22, 2000). we decided to re-publish it in a new translated version. --- what is the best moment of the day? the evening, because its nice not to think. what kind of music do you listen to at the moment? I only listen to classical music. I love mozart, I don't know anything about music. I'm not interested in music after shubert, I only like music up to Beethoven, him included. do you listen to the radio? I listen to music on the radio. what books do you have on your bedside table? right now I have a pile of 30-40 books, but I'm not reading them, I'm just disorganized. do you read design magazines? no, never. where do you get news from? newspapers? I don't read them often, I like the herald tribune the best. do you notice how women are dressing? do you have any preferences? I like women's fashion very much. what kind of clothes do you avoid wearing? I never wear athletic clothing, even when I play golf I wear the pants I normally wear. do you have any pets? unfortunately no, I live alone and animals need to be taken care of. where do you work on your designs and projects? everywhere, in bed, on a plane, in my office. I always have something to write down ideas in, I sketch on newspapers or magazines in airplanes, usually I tear out the page and then draw on it. who would you like to design something for? I can't stand schoolish-sounding titles like 'pianist's house on the garda lake"' I believe that architecture and work is always conditioned by reality. if not, then it is something else, a different work. this means that there is no excuse for designing ugly things. in the sense that since work is always conditioned, but it is born to be conditioned, a hypothetical work seems to me to be something absolutely stupid.  see the quicktime clip, 956 kb. do you discuss your work with architects and designers? nobody, milan is the city of solitude, nobody. describe your style, like a good friend of yours would describe it. style is a word which I detest, I think that the two greatest architects of this century were frank lloyd wright and le corbusier, I try do design as simply as possible, remove excess. I like mies when he said less is more. I think that this is the proper way to understand our work. see the quicktime clip, 712 kb. which of your work has given you the most satisfaction? I never like to go back to work I've already completed, ever. sort of like how the guilty person should never go back to the scene of the crime. a project I really loved was a building on piazzale aquileia. but usually when I think back over my work I only see the errors I've made. and I am indulgent towards them, I understand that even though I only see my mistakes, something remeins is there any designer and/or architect, you appreciate a lot? leaving out michelangelo, the modern movement is also my own history, I particularly admire franco albini and ignazio gardella. and those still active, are there any particular ones you appreciate? I like castiglioni's work very much, and I don't particularly like the work of the 'in' architects of the moment. what are you afraid of regarding the future ? I am an anxious person, and I'm afraid of everything.  |
 vico magistretti courtesy de padova  'carimate' chair 1959, for cassina now manufactured by de padova  'vidun' table 1986, for de padova  'selene' chair 1969 for artemide, now manufactured by heller  'shigeto' cupboard 1988, for de padova  'samarcanda' easy chair 1998, for campeggi |
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| --- the questionaire of marcel proust (1871 - 1922) ....................................................................................................................................................... (in age of fourteen proust was given an english album "confessions : an album to record thoughts, feelings". seven years later marcel proust published this questionaire) in the literary salons in nineteenth century paris, this parlour game was a popular amusement. for designboom vico magistretti has answered these 'old fashioned' questions. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. |
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the main traits of my character. uncertainty. a quality I desire in a man. friendliness. a quality I desire in a woman. there are too many. what I appreciate most among my friends. affection. my principal defect. laziness. my favourite occupation. my work. my dream of felicity / happiness. staying in arizona. what would be the biggest misfortune for me. - who I would like to be. - where I would like to live. despite everything, I would say italy the colour I prefer. white. the flower I love. gardenia. the bird I prefer. sparrows. my favourite authors. tolstoy. my favourite poets. leopardi. my heroes in fiction. the colonel in '100 years of solitude'. my heroines in fiction. nathalia in 'war and peace'. my favourite composers. mozart. my favourite artists. there are too many. my heroes in real life. there are none my heroines in history. - my favourite names. stefano and susanna what I dislike the most. garlic. the historic characters I dislike most. its too easy and too dfficult to say. the military enterprise I like the most. I have scorn for stupid wars. the reformation I appreciate the most. protestantism. nature’s gift I would like to have. to play the piano. how I would like to die. while I'm asleep. my soul's present condition. anxious the faults I can bear. infidelity my motto. I don't have one. |
 'maui' chair 1997, for kartell  'silver' chair 1989, for de padova  'vicosolo' chair 1998, for fritz hansen  'atollo' lamp 1977, for oluce  'eclisse' lamp 1965, for artemide |
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