The first comprehensive monograph on Mario Bellini, one of Italy’s most versatile and influential designers.

The book is richly illustrated with over 500 images, including sketches and photographs, from Mario Bellini’s archive, published for the first time.

It includes a complete catalogue of Bellini’s design work, thematically presented, from calculators, typewriters, office and banking machines, to chairs, tables, sofas, and lighting. Features a series of essays, including an interview with Mario Bellini, covering the various aspects of his career and design processes.

A must-have book for architects and designers of all disciplines including product, furniture, lighting, textile, and graphics, as well as students of all these disciplines.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Format: Hardback
Size: 270 x 205 mm (10 5/8 x 8 1/8 in)
Pages: 320 pp
Illustrations: 500 illustrations
ISBN: 9780714869452

Enrico Morteo is an architect, editor, publisher, curator and a consultant of design and architecture. He has curated of a number of important programs and exhibitions including the ADI/ Compasso d'Oro Historical Collection, the Programmare l'arte exhibition for Venice and Milan, 2012–2013, the Uniqueness of Italy exhibition in Rome at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in 2011, the Roberto Sambonet exhibition held in Turin, Brasilia and Sao Paulo in 2008–09 and the exhibition Olivetti: Una bella società shown in Turin in 2008.

Contents and sections:

Preface

At Domus 1985-1991
Design is a Cultural Act
Intelligent Tools
Updating the Furniture
Consumer Technology
In Advance
Looking Backwards: An Imaginary Geneology
Domestic Planning
Archetype and Modern

The Extinction of the Machine
An Environmental Attitude
Taming the Office
To Do It Differently
Narrative Projects
Principles of Decoration
Basic Chair
Trifles
Tuning the Present

Timeline
Bibliography
Index

"Without curiosity you cannot create things."—Mario Bellini

"Designing something new has always been a moving experience for me, a rare privilege to be valued." —Mario Bellini

"One of the last great protagonists of Italian design."—The New York Times

"Bellini proved himself a prolific product designer working for Yamaha, Renault, Fiat..."—swide.com

"It's surprising that this is the first comprehensive monograph on Bellini—his award-winning electronic devices for Olivetti have had a far-reaching influence... Having served as the editor of Domus between 1985 and 1991, he offers an especially interesting historical perspective in an interview in this volume." —Metropolis

"A triumph... Insightful, poignant and unabashedly honest."—Identity

"Mario Bellini is one of those rare designers whose work can truly be said to span generations... [A] parade of candy-coloured forms and elaborate era-defining shapes."—Wallpaper

"This tome establishes Bellini as one of our era’s most essential furniture designers."—1stdibs Introspective Magazine

"[E]ngrossing... A significant contribution to design history."—Core77