Franco Albini was an Italian Neo-Rationalist architect and designer.

A native of Robbiate

Robbiate

Robbiate is a comune in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 30 km northeast of Milan and about 20 km south of Lecco...

, near 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 ,...

, Albini obtained his degree in architecture

Architecture

Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...

 at Politecnico di Milano University in 1929 and began his professional career working for Gio Ponti

Giò Ponti

Gio Ponti was one of the most important Italian architects, industrial designers, furniture designers, artists, and publishers of the twentieth century.-Early life:...

. He started displaying his works at Milan Triennale. In 1930 he opened his own practice.

Through his creations, the modern furniture design merged the Italian traditional artisanship with the new forms of modernism. In his creations, he used raw, inexpensive materials. He exploited the very skilled Italian craftsmanship. This also meant an elegant design based on a minimalist aesthetic.

One of the first, successful works in 1939 is a radio, encased in glass, so to show its internal components.

In 1950 Albini designed the famous and fashionable "Margherita" and "Gala" chairs, made of woven cane. In 1952 he created the "Fiorenza" armchair for Arflex

Arflex

Arflex is an Italian company that makes and sells contemporary furniture.-The Company History:In 1947 a group of researchers and entrepreneurs who after the war had begun to work on two new upholstering materials – foam rubber and elastic tape made by Pirelli – presented the technical...

; in 1955 the "Luisa" chair; in 1956 the "Rocking chaise" for Poggi.

In the 1960s he worked on industrial design as well as important architectural projects.
In 1961 he designed the Rome Rinascente building. Three years later he designed in a team of experts many Milan subway stations. In 1964 the television set he created for Brionvega

Brionvega

Brionvega is an Italian electronics company, established in Milan in 1945, now located in Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy.Former part of the Seleco-Formenti Group, after the crack down of the company, following price dumping from Turkish manufacturers, has been split in two parts.The rights...

 was displayed at the Milan Triennial. In the same year, he created various lamps for Arteluce

Arteluce

Arteluce was a company that specialises in lighting and interior design and was founded by aeronautical engineer and modern lighting pioneer Gino Sarfatti in Milan....

.

Franco Albini, among other companies, worked for: Brionvega

Brionvega

Brionvega is an Italian electronics company, established in Milan in 1945, now located in Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy.Former part of the Seleco-Formenti Group, after the crack down of the company, following price dumping from Turkish manufacturers, has been split in two parts.The rights...

, Cassina

Cassina S.p.A.

Cassina S.p. A. is an Italian manufacturing company specialised in the creation of high-end designer furniture.-Origins:The "Amedeo Cassina" company was created by the brothers Cesare and Umberto Cassina in 1927 in Meda, Brianza,...

, Arflex

Arflex

Arflex is an Italian company that makes and sells contemporary furniture.-The Company History:In 1947 a group of researchers and entrepreneurs who after the war had begun to work on two new upholstering materials – foam rubber and elastic tape made by Pirelli – presented the technical...

, Arteluce

Arteluce

Arteluce was a company that specialises in lighting and interior design and was founded by aeronautical engineer and modern lighting pioneer Gino Sarfatti in Milan....

 and Poggi.

Albini was also an architect & interior designer. Among the others, in 1945 he created the 'Zanini Fur Shop' located in Milan. As writer and editor, from 1945 to 1946 he worked for the Italian magazine Casabella

Casabella

Casabella is an Italian architectural and product design magazine with a focus on modern, radical design. It includes interviews with the world's most prominent architects....

.

Albini obtained three 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...

awards, the most prestigious Italian design prize.

External links

• Franco Albini - Design Dictionary Illustrated article about Franco Albini
• World Wide Arts Resources
• Architonic
• Foundation Franco Albini