Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan in 1931. He graduated with a degree in architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. He was editor-in-chief of the magazines Casabella (1970-1976), Modo (1977-1981) and domus (1979- 1985 and 2010-2011). He worked with companies like Cartier, Hermès, Vacheron Constantin, Alessi, Swarovski, Bisazza, Venini, Supreme, and Zanotta, In 1979, 1981 and 2014 he was awarded the Compasso d' Oro prize. In 2003, Atelier Mendini was awarded a Gold Medal for Italian architecture at the Triennale Museum of Milan for the Naples subway project. For the Byblos Art Hotel in Verona, the Atelier received the Villegiature Award for "Best Hotel Architecture and Interior Design in Europe 2006”. In 2014, it was awarded The European Prize for Architecture by The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. He was awarded A&W Designer of the Year considered the "Oscars of Design" in 2017.
Alessandro Mendini was one of the most esteemed architects, theorists and designers in the world. Before he began his career as an architect and designer, he worked as editor-in-chief for architecture and design magazines. Casabella, Modo and Domus have kept their international prestige throughout the years, they introduced Italian design as an innovative concept to the world, as opposed to traditional design. Above all, these magazines had a significant role in placing Italian design and manufacturing at the forefront of the world, especially during the 1980s. Despite Italy's economic difficulties in the 1960s and 1970s, the country has been able to count on a relevant number of companies that understood and appreciated design. Throughout his career, Alessandro Mendini has put talented designers in touch with Italian manufacturers, and in the 1980s his commitment to promoting the creativity of designers and the competence of Italian manufacturing was felt all over the world.
Having started his career with a focus on theory, Alessandro Mendini began practicing the profession of architect and designer after he turned 50. In 1989, together with his brother Francesco Mendini, he opened the "Atelier Mendini" in Milan. In those years, the following projects were accomplished: Torre Paradiso (a commemorative monument for the Port of Hiroshima) and the Groninger Museum in The Netherlands which is considered one of the most amazing postmodern buildings of the late 20th century, and was also selected as one of the "1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die".
In 1979, Alessandro Mendini initiated a close and fruitful collaboration with many designers and architects. These works were not only essential to the company's activities but also became part of the history of contemporary design at an international level.
The Amuleto lamp by Ramun, designed by Alessandro Mendini in 2010, holds significant historical value as the development of its slender, annular shape, which harnesses and maximizes the benefits of the LED light source by improving lighting uniformity, was pioneering in the history of lamp design. The combination of colors in the minimalist structure, composed of circles and lines, without springs or cables, and the use of transparent materials, gives the object a sense of lightness and humanity. Amuleto is a term that represents the human desire for happiness and the fulfillment of their dreams. The three luminous circles that compose the lamp—head, joint, and base—symbolize the trinity of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth, respectively. Thanks to its innovative performance and artistic qualities, Amuleto is part of the permanent collection at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, Germany, the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, the Groningen Museum in the Netherlands, the Design Museum Denmark, the DDP in Korea, and the Tsinghua University Art Museum in China. RAMUN Amuleto, Proust Armchair, Groningen Museum, Anna G, Paradiso Tower in Hiroshima, Alessi Factories, Casalingo Museum in Omegna, Busstop project in Hannover, Bisazza Showroom, Casino Arosa in Switzerland, Bruno Bianchi Municipal Pool in Trieste, Dinosaur sculpture in Fukui, Materdei Metro Station and Villa Comunale in Naples, Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amistà in Verona, Bovisa Tech District in Milan, and many other important works.
“Questa lampada porta fortuna”
(This lamp brings good luck.)
- Alessandro Mendini -
Beyond the intrinsic logic of colors and complex forms, Alessandro Mendini's design encompasses many hidden values that range broadly from the surface to deeper levels.
On the surface, Alessandro Mendini's design appears humorous, playful, and even extravagant, making people feel at ease. Conveying such values is certainly uncommon for a work of art or design. Going deeper, Alessandro Mendini's design is rich in more essential values.
Fundamentally, there are many concepts that Alessandro Mendini's design seeks to propose and transcend. Involved in an experimental and radical design movement, Alessandro Mendini began to oppose the so-called modernist design, which was solely focused on utilitarianism and commercial feasibility. Initially, his design approach was to challenge the utilitarian design of the time, which is why Alessandro Mendini is also known as an extremist.
The values that Alessandro Mendini attempted to convey through his works were expressed socially during the 1980s. Thanks to his efforts, Alessandro Mendini not only opposed traditional design but also invented a new design. In this sense, his works stimulated a paradigm shift and created new trends and traditions in the world of design. In other words, Alessandro Mendini's personal values on design have been a significant stimulus in Italian society and have spread and taken root globally.
For this reason, Alessandro Mendini deserves to be considered an important theorist and not just an extraordinarily talented designer.
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