Alessandro Mendini, Italian design genius, dies, age 87

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Alessandro Mendini, Italian design genius, dies, age 87 ⇒ Referred by some as the “protagonist of a real revolution in design”, Alessandro Mendini, was not only an important designer and architect who played a fundamental role in the development of Italian Postmodern and radical design movements; he was also a well-respected theorist, who propelled his knowledge as editor of Italian design magazines such as Casabella, Modo, and Domus. – CovetED takes you back on an honouring journey through his work, and contribute to the design world.

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For Mendini’s, everything started in 1959, at the Politecnico di Milano where he studied architecture. He then landed his first job as a designer for Marcello Nizzoli – famous Italian artist, architect, industrial and graphic designer.

As an architect Medini was able to design several buildings such as the ‘Alessi residence’ in Omegna (Italy); the theater complex “Teatrino della Bicchieraia” in Arezzo (Italy); the Forum Museum of Omegna which acted as a memorial tower in Hiroshima (Japan); the Groninger Museum in The Netherlands; as well as the Arosa Casino in Switzerland.

Alessandro Mendini, Italian design genius, dies, age 87

Groninger Museum

All these are considered great representations of his talent as an architect, but the Groninger Museum is a more particular example as it is considered one of the most amazing postmodern buildings of the late 20th century, having been selected as one of the “1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die.”

As we know, his career goes way beyond his work as an architect. – In 1970 Mendini was one of the masterminds behind the ‘Radical design’ movement, which is considered to date, the most transgressive Italian design movement. He was also one of the founding members of the “Global Tools” collective, founded back in 1973.

Alessandro Mendini in his Milan atelier

In 1979 he joined the Studio Alchimia as a partner. Here he was able to work with Ettore Scottass and Michele De Lucchi, both acclaimed Italian architects and designers. The, in 1982 he continued enriching his career by co-founding the Domus Academy – a private postgraduate design school in Milan.

In 1979 Alessandro Mendini created his famous ‘Lassú chair’ which consisted of a chair built on top of a pyramid structure. This idea defied the boundaries of what products could be, a subject which Mendini went on to further explore not only with his designs, but also with his work as an editor. – An example of this happened in 1975 when the cover of the Casabella magazine featured a photograph of the ‘Lassú chair’ being burned.

Photo by Jason Schmidt

Another famous landmark of this designer was the RAMUN amuleto lamp, designed in 2010. This was very interesting aesthetic approach to lighting, where the lamp’s ring shape accentuated the LED strength, while also enhancing the lighting uniformity. The lamp doesn’t have any spring or wire, and its core design lives from simple lines and circles as well as a mix of various colours. – The lamp can still be admired today at the Moderne der Pinakothek in Munich, where is being displayed permanently.

Image courtesy of RAMUN official website

As the cherry on top of an already impressive career, Alessandro Mendini, was also awarded several international prizes such as – the ‘ Compasso d’Oro’ (in 1979, 1981 and, 2014); the European Prize for Architecture awarded by the Chicago Athenaeum and the European Centre of Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies; and finally, he was also graced with an honorary title from the Architectural League of New York, as well as the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, from the French Replubic.

Alessandro Mendini

Saying goodbye to Alessandro Mendini is saying to goodbye to someone who saw everything where there may have been nothing otherwise. Someone who rejoiced at the thought of anything random, but where there was still so much to be discovered and reinvented. In short, someone who love breaking and redefining, rules.

In his own words – “I think that besides being functional, an object must have a soul and express friendliness.” – We know that, even though his passing brings great sadness to the design world, his soul will continue to live on forever through his unmatchable legacy.

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