Arclinea
Encyclopedia
Arclinea, also known as Arclinea Arredamenti Spa, is an Italian design company. It was founded in Caldogno
, Italy
in 1925 by Silvio Fortuna, as a carpentry
shop. The company began to focus exclusively on kitchen cabinetry
in 1960. At that point, the firm began crafting cabinetry specifically designed to hold appliances, which had typically been considered a separate kitchen design element. This led to a more sleek, streamlined appearance for the kitchen.
The company successfully introduced several modular kitchen designs into the marketplace during the 1960s and 1970s, working with a variety of European designers. In 1987, Arclinea partnered exclusively with Italian architect Antonio Citterio
, who has remained the sole designer for the firm, designing and coordinating its six kitchen models: Italia, Mediterranea, Florida, Artusi, Convivium, and Lignum et Lapis, which was introduced at the 2008 Eurocucina Fair in Milan
.
Since that time, Arclinea has been recognized with numerous awards, including Italy's highest design award, the Compasso d'Oro
, and the 2004 Elle Decor Designer of the Year Award. Arclinea has also expanded beyond Italy, with locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. Its first standalone U.S. showroom opened in Boston in 2001, although the product was previously sold in Chicago. Today, Silvio Fortuna's grandson, also named Silvio Fortuna, is the chairman of the company.
Caldogno
Caldogno is a town and comune near Vicenza in Italy. Its population is 11,291.The Villa Caldogno Nordera in its territory is attributed to architect Andrea PalladioIt is the birthplace of footballer Roberto Baggio....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1925 by Silvio Fortuna, as a carpentry
Carpentry
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
shop. The company began to focus exclusively on kitchen cabinetry
Cabinet (furniture)
A cabinet is usually a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors or drawers for storing miscellaneous items. Some cabinets stand alone while others are built into a wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet. Cabinets are typically made of wood or, now increasingly, of synthetic...
in 1960. At that point, the firm began crafting cabinetry specifically designed to hold appliances, which had typically been considered a separate kitchen design element. This led to a more sleek, streamlined appearance for the kitchen.
The company successfully introduced several modular kitchen designs into the marketplace during the 1960s and 1970s, working with a variety of European designers. In 1987, Arclinea partnered exclusively with Italian architect Antonio Citterio
Antonio Citterio
Antonio Citterio is an Italian furniture designer and industrial designer who lives and works in Milan.Citterio graduated in architecture at the Politecnico di Milano and since 1972 has worked for many leading manufacturers such as Ansorg, B&B Italia, Flexform, Flos, Hackman, Iittala, Hansgrohe,...
, who has remained the sole designer for the firm, designing and coordinating its six kitchen models: Italia, Mediterranea, Florida, Artusi, Convivium, and Lignum et Lapis, which was introduced at the 2008 Eurocucina Fair in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.
Since that time, Arclinea has been recognized with numerous awards, including Italy's highest design award, the Compasso d'Oro
Compasso d'Oro
Compasso d'Oro is the name of an Industrial Design award originated in Italy in 1954 by the La Rinascente company from an original idea of Gio Ponti and Alberto Rosselli. From 1964 it has been hosted exclusively by Associazione per il Disegno Industriale . It is the first and most recognized award...
, and the 2004 Elle Decor Designer of the Year Award. Arclinea has also expanded beyond Italy, with locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. Its first standalone U.S. showroom opened in Boston in 2001, although the product was previously sold in Chicago. Today, Silvio Fortuna's grandson, also named Silvio Fortuna, is the chairman of the company.