enzo mari autoprogettazione for artek

designer enzo mari with 'sedia 1'

having worked on more than 2000 projects which have marked design history, enzo mari
is probably italy's most provocative designer. as a social commitment, through developing
functional objects, he creates 'products' that celebrate an utopic world and the dignity of
not alienated work. as art pieces they are brutally honest and at the same time beautiful to
look at. birgit lohmann, designboom's editor in chief, has studied industrial design under tutor
enzo mari and directly after university has collaborated with him on various design projects
for many years. one of her 'masters' favorite projects is his 'autoprogettazione' series of 1974.

'sedia 1- chair' is the first object from mari's thought-provoking project 'autoprogettazione'
to go into production with finnish furniture company artek.
the original idea consisted of a series of 'do-it-yourself' instructions on how to construct the
various pieces of furniture. now, artek offers customers to purchase a set of pre-cut pine wood
boards, nails and instructions...

artek will be celebrating its 75 years of art and technology production with a presentation at
spazio rossana orlandi. meanwhile at the triennale museum mari will show a short documentary
produced by artek, which explains the concept behind 'autoprogettazione' and which demonstrates
the building steps for 'sedia 1'.


enzo mari demonstrating how to construct 'sedia 1'


mari nailing the pine wood components into place


mari nailing the pine wood components into place


enzo mari attaching the seat back



'sedia 1' - complete


enzo mari with 'sedia 1'
all images by juoko lehtola