Achille Castiglioni

Born in Milan on 16 febbraio 1918 and graduated in Architecture in 1944.

Since 1940 he experimented on industrial products with his brothers Livio (1911-1979) and Pier Giacomo (1913-1968).

After graduating in architecture in 1944, giving birth to a research on the forms, techniques and new materials, tending to the realization of an integral design process.

From 1945 to 1962 held the project activity along with his brother Pier Giacomo in the office of C.so Porta Nuova 57, in 1962 for the building demolition study is transferred in Piazza Castello 27 (MI) where he continues his collaboration with Pier Giacomo until his death in 1968, from 1968 to 2002, the year of the death of Achilles, is continuing its activities increasingly in the study of Piazza Castello alone.

Follows at the Ministry of Education in 1969 he became a lecturer in "Artistic Design for Industry" and holds the Chair in the Faculty of Architecture in Turin until 1980 and then in Milan until 1993 as Professor of "Industrial Design" .

It has implemented since 1950 experiments and research in the production of equipment for exhibitions (Triennale di Milano, Montecatini, Agip, Rai).

In 1956 he was one of the founders.

MoMA fourteen of his works are in New York.

Other works are in museums: the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Kunstgewerbe Museum in Zurich, Staatliches Museum fur Angewandte Kunst in Monaco, the Design Museum in Prato, Umeleckoprumyslove Museum in Prague, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, The Denver Art Museum, Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Agewandte Kunst Museum in Hamburg and Cologne.

The nine Compasso d´Oro was delivered:

- Compasso d´Oro 1955 (Luminator lamp)

- Compasso d´Oro 1960 (chair T 12 Palini)

- Compasso d´Oro 1962 (coffee maker Pythagoras)

- Compasso d´Oro 1964 (spillatore for Spinamatic beer)

- Golden Compass 1967 (headphones for simultaneous translation)

- Compasso d´Oro 1979 (bracket lamp)

- Compasso d´Oro 1979 (bed of Omsa hospital)

- Compasso d´Oro 1984 (cutlery Dry)

- Golden Compass 1989 (special mention to the dedicated to the design profession) with the following motivation: "for raising, through his invaluable experience, the design to the highest values ​​of culture"

"The experience does not give certainty nor security, but rather increases the possibility of error. I would say that it is better to start from scratch each time with humility because that experience does not turn into slyness "

Achille Castiglioni

http://fondazioneachillecastiglioni.it/