Massimo Iosa Ghini

Last updated
Massimo Iosa Ghini
Massimo Iosa Ghini Photo by Enrico Basili for Dogma (3).jpg
Born (1959-06-18) 18 June 1959 (age 65)
Bologna, Italy
NationalityItalian
Alma mater Milan Polytechnic
OccupationArchitect
PracticeIosa Ghini Associati
Buildings Ferrari Factory Store, Serravalle Scrivia
IBM, Rome
People Mover, Bologna
Website iosaghini.it

Massimo Iosa Ghini (born 18 June 1959) is an Italian architect, designer, and professor. He is recognized for his contribution to the Bolidist Movement and his involvement with the Memphis Group, alongside architects such as Ettore Sottsass and Michael Graves. Iosa Ghini is acclaimed for his streamlined and organic designs, demonstrating his visionary ability to blend disciplines, forms, and dimensions, transcending boundaries between art, design, and architecture. [1] With a prolific career spanning the entire world, he has created numerous architectural projects and a substantial collection of furniture that reflects his futuristic design style. In 1990, he founded the Iosa Ghini Associati (Associates) Firm, which currently operates in Milan, Bologna, Moscow, and Miami.

Contents

Schooling

Born in Bologna, Massimo Iosa Ghini initially pursued illustration before discovering his true passion for architecture. He attended Milan Polytechnic and upon graduation, he found himself immersed in the dynamic atmosphere of the 1980s, which greatly influenced his work. During this time, he explored various artistic endeavors, including furniture design and set design for the Italian RAI TV network. [2] In 1981, his unconventional designs caught the attention of the Memphis Group, a Milan-based collective of architects and designers who designed furniture with colors, shapes, and patterns that went against the design status-quo. [3] This association provided him with valuable learning experiences and opportunities to create iconic pieces such as the "Bertrand" Sideboard and the "Otello" armchair, one of which was recently auctioned from the late David Bowie's Collection. [4]

Ghini has held teaching positions at Sapienza University in Rome, Hong Kong Technical University, and Ferrara University. [5]

Bolidism

Iosa Ghini is recognized as one of the pioneers of Bolidism , a style characterized by the prominence of visual and media aspects over functional purposes, depicting the transition from materiality to a more visual representation of objects. This vibrant style emerged in the 1980s and draws inspiration from futurism, showcasing a fascination with the interaction between humans and machines. [6]

Architecture

Green architecture concept drawing by Massimo Iosa Ghini. Study for architectures with integrating systems with vegetation and energy saving systems, drawing, 2000-13.jpg
Green architecture concept drawing by Massimo Iosa Ghini.

In 1990, Iosa Ghini co-founded Iosa Ghini Associati with his wife, Milena Mussi. Since then, his firm has collaborated with various international groups, undertaking large-scale projects in residential, commercial, and public spaces. Iosa Ghini's distinctive, dynamic, and futurist Italian style is evident in the design of the Ferrari Factory Store. [7] The firm places a strong emphasis on creating architectural experiences that cater to the modern human, incorporating elements of media, communication, and transportation into their designs.

Iosa Ghini's work is characterized by a vibrant and playful touch, bringing a sense of liveliness to his projects. In addition to the aforementioned companies, he has contributed to the global development of brands such as IBM, Kiko Milano, the Capital Group, and Alitalia, among others. His work has received recognition, including his selection by Luca Zevi, curator of the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2012, for the exhibition "Architetture del Made in Italy," featuring the "Seat Pagine Gialle" project in Turin.

Product Design

Bertrand Sideboard by Iosa Ghini for the Memphis Group The-bertrand-sideboard-from-designer-massimo-iosa-ghini-was-estimated-to-sell-for-6613-it-sold-for-25140.jpg
Bertrand Sideboard by Iosa Ghini for the Memphis Group

Several of Iosa Ghini's products were featured in the influential Memphis Project. His design style is characterized by a playful and decorative approach, aligning with the exhibition's rejection of rationalism. This unique feature is evident across various scales of his work, from tableware and furniture to public transportation. Iosa Ghini has collaborated with renowned product brands like Alessi and Duravit.

Many of his projects, spanning different scales, have been acquired by museum collections and have garnered recognition and awards, including the Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, the Roscoe Award, the IAI Green Design Award in China, the iF Product Design Award, and the Red Dot Award.[ citation needed ]

In his commissions, Iosa Ghini places great emphasis on the design of furniture, which adds a bespoke quality to all his works and enhances the cohesiveness of his colorful visions.[ citation needed ]

Work

Ferrari Factory Store FERRARI FACTORY STORE 1.jpg
Ferrari Factory Store

The Iosa Ghini website features the following projects, showcasing a selection of notable realized works:

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldo Rossi</span> Italian architect (1931 - 1997)

Aldo Rossi was an Italian architect and designer who achieved international recognition in four distinct areas: architectural theory, drawing and design and also product design. He was one of the leading proponents of the postmodern movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ettore Sottsass</span> Italian architect (1917–2007)

Ettore Sottsass was an Italian architect, product designer and aformer militant of the Italian Republican Fascist Party. He was known for his designs which included designs of: furniture, jewelry, glass, lighting, homeware and office supplies. He also worked on numerous buildings and interiors, often defined by bold colours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlo Scarpa</span> Italian architect

Carlo Scarpa was an Italian architect and designer. He was influenced by the materials, landscape, and history of Venetian culture, as well as that of Japan. Scarpa translated his interests in history, regionalism, invention, and the techniques of the artist and craftsman into ingenious glass and furniture design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlo Mollino</span> Italian architect, designer, photographer and educator

Carlo Mollino was an Italian architect, designer, photographer and educator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mario Bellini</span> Italian architect and designer

Mario Bellini is an Italian architect and designer. After graduating from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1959, Bellini pursued a career as an architect, exhibition designer, product designer, and furniture designer during the Italian economic boom of the late 20th century. Bellini has received several accolades in a variety of design fields, including eight Compasso d'Oro awards and the Gold Medal for Lifetime Achievement by the Triennale di Milano. In 2019, the Italian President of the Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, awarded Bellini a career medal in recognition of his contributions to Italian architecture and design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gio Ponti</span> Italian architect and designer (1891–1979)

Giovanni "Gio" Ponti was an Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer, artist, teacher, writer and publisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Achille Castiglioni</span> Italian architect and designer (1918–2002)

Achille Castiglioni was an Italian architect and designer of furniture, lighting, radiograms and other objects. As a professor of design, he advised his students "If you are not curious, forget it. If you are not interested in others, what they do and how they act, then being a designer is not the right job for you."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ignazio Gardella</span> Italian architect and designer

Ignazio Gardella was an Italian architect and designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franco Albini</span> Italian architect and designer (1905–1977)

Franco Albini was an Italian Neo-Rationalist architect, designer and university instructor in design.

Superarchitettura is a theoretical & conceptual framework, whose physical definition has been given at the homonymous 1966 exhibition, held at Jolly2, an art gallery of Pistoia, Italy.

David Shaw Nicholls is a Scottish architect and designer based in New York City, Italy and Glasgow. He became internationally known by his minimalist ASFLEXI settee, conceived while in school.

Massimo Carmassi is an Italian architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STUDIODADA</span> Italian architecture and design firm

STUDIODADA was an Italian architectural and design office which started in 1977 during Italy's radical period. It completed interior design and architecture projects in Italy and abroad. It ceased to operate in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marconi Express</span>

The Marconi Express is a monorail line in Bologna, Italy. At 5.095 kilometres (3.2 mi) in length, it links Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport to Bologna Centrale railway station, with an intermediate station and depot at Lazzaretto and a travel time of 7 minutes and 20 seconds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emilio Ambasz</span> Argentinian architect

Emilio Ambasz is an Argentinian-American architect and industrial designer. Ambasz has been called "the father, poet, and prophet" of green architecture by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. His style is characterised by a combination of buildings and gardens, which he describes as "green over grey". He bucked the trends of the 1970s, hiding his buildings under gardens and grass or putting them on boats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis Group</span> Italian design collective

The Memphis Group, also known as Memphis Milano, was an Italian design and architecture group founded by Ettore Sottsass. It was active from 1980 to 1987. The group designed postmodern furniture, lighting, fabrics, carpets, ceramics, glass and metal objects.

Aldo Cibic is an Italian designer.

Michele de Lucchi is an Italian architect and designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Branzi</span> Italian architect and designer (1938–2023)

Andrea Branzi was an Italian architect, designer, and academic. He was born and raised in Florence, though he lived and worked in Milan for much of his career. He was a professor and chairman of the School of Interior Design at the Polytechnic University of Milan until 2009.

Pino Grimaldi, born Giuseppe Grimaldi, was an Italian designer and academic.

References

  1. ↑ "Memphis to Miami, Archdaily". 2016-11-30. Retrieved 2017-06-10.
  2. ↑ Fiell, Charlotte; Fiell, Peter (2005). Design of the 20th Century (25th anniversary ed.). Köln: Taschen. p. 349. ISBN   9783822840788. OCLC   809539744.
  3. ↑ Barnes, Sara (2023-08-20). "How the Memphis Movement Went Against "Good Taste" To Inspire Designers Today". My Modern Met. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  4. ↑ Jacobs, Sara (2016-11-14). "David Bowie's out-of-this-world art collection just sold for over $41 million — see 21 of his best furniture pieces". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
  5. ↑ "Natuzzi - Massimo Iosa Ghini". www.natuzzi.com. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  6. ↑ "About – Iosa Ghini Associates" . Retrieved 2025-01-12.
  7. ↑ "Ferrari store by massimo iosa ghini opens in milan during design week, designboom". 2015-06-29. Retrieved 2017-06-12.
  8. ↑ THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/brickell-flatiron
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.