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Albini, Franco [1905-1977. Italy. Architect/Industrial/Furniture/Exhibition Designer]
Albini, Franco [1905-1977. Italy. Architect/Industrial/Furniture/Exhibition Designer]
Franco Albini was born in Robblate, Como, Italy on 17 October 1905 and studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano from where he graduated with a Dip. Arch. in 1929. After a period working with Gio Ponti (1891-1979), Albini opened his own studio in Milan in 1930 and was in private practice until 1952 when he went into partnership with Franca Helg (1920-1989). Antonio Piva (1936-) joined the partnership in 1962, and, in 1965, Marco Albini (1940-), his son, became a partner. Notable architectural projects by Franco Albini and his office were the Villa Pestarini at Piazza Tripoli in Milan (1938), a furniture store at Via Verri in Milan (with BBPR, Ignzio Gardella, and G. Mucchi, 1944), the masterplan for the city of Milan (with BBPR, and others, 1946), a development plan for Reggio Emilia (with Giancarlo DeCarlo, 1947-48), the Istituto Nationale Assicurazioni office building in Parma, Italy (1950), workers' housing estates in Milan and Reggio Emilia for Istituto Nationale Assicurazioni (with others, 1950-57), municipal offices in Genoa (1952-62), La Rinascente department store at Piazza Fiume, Rome (with Franca Helg, 1957-61), a house in Puna Ala, Italy (1961), stations of the Metropolitana Milanese Spa, transit (subway) system in Milan (with Franca Helg, 1962-69), the Villa Quinto in Genoa (1965-67), an apartment building in Courmayeur, Aosta, Italy (1965-70), an office and residential block at Piazza Arcole, Milan (1966-70), thermal baths building in Salsomaggiore, Terme, Italy (1967), the Villa Ponte dell'Olio in Piacenze, Italy (1967-69), an apartment and office building in Parma, Italy (1968-71), the conversion of a Medieval tower in Montacatini Val Cecina, Italy (1969-70), houses in Daverio, Italy (1971-73), and houses in Montichiari, Italy (1974). Franco Albini worked primarily as an architect, however, he also designed numerous exhibitions, trade fairs and trade fair stands (including for the Triennale di Milano, and the Italian industrial exhibition for the New York World's Fair, 1964-65), furniture (for Cassina, La Rinascente, Poggi, Arflex, Knoll and Bonacina), lighting (for Arteluce and Sirrah), and interiors. In 1963, in collaboration with Bob Noorda and Antonio Piva, Franco Albini and Franca Helg designed identification graphics for new stations of the Metropolitana Milanese Spa, transit system in Milan, for which they received the Compasso D'Oro Award in 1964. He also won the Compasso D'Oro in 1955 for his 'Luisa' chair for Poggi and was on the jury of the Compasso D'Oro in 1956, 1957, and 1970. Albini participated in the Triennale di Milano from 1930 onwards. In 1970 he joined the design team of the newly-formed silverware company San Lorenzo, for whom she produced designs for a number of years. He was editor of 'Casabella' in 1945-46. He taught at the Istituto Universitario di Archittetura in Venice (1949-64), and the Facoltá di Architettura in Turin (1954-55), and was professor of architectural composition at the Politecnico di Milano (1963-77). He was also visiting lecturer elsewhere. Albini was a member of the Congrès Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne (CIAM) and the Associazione di Disegno Industriale (ADI). Albini received the Olivetti National Medal for Architecture (1957) and the IN-ARCH Award (1963). He was elected an Honorary Royal Designer for Industry (Hon. RDI) by the Royal Society of Arts in London (1971), and an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He died in Milan, Italy, on 1 November 1977
DESIGN RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS (DRP) ©
DESIGN RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS (DRP) ©
A chaise longue rocking chair, c.1940, designed by Franco Albini
Bibliography
1. Franco Albini 1930-1970. Edited by Franca Helg. New York, NY: Rizzoli, 1971
2. Franco Albini: architecture and design, 1934-1977. Edited by Stephen Leet. New York, NY: Princeton Architectural Press, 1990
3. Piva, Antonio. Franco Albini 1905-1977. Milan: Electa, 1998
1. Franco Albini 1930-1970. Edited by Franca Helg. New York, NY: Rizzoli, 1971
2. Franco Albini: architecture and design, 1934-1977. Edited by Stephen Leet. New York, NY: Princeton Architectural Press, 1990
3. Piva, Antonio. Franco Albini 1905-1977. Milan: Electa, 1998
