“Mobili per Uomo” (Furniture for Man), a Bisazza Limited Edition collection designed between 1997 and 2008. Composed of nine oversized sculptures decorated with hand-cut 24K yellow gold mosaic tiles, the “Mobili per Uomo” collection expresses the great versatility and artistic value of the mosaic and the artist’s creativity. The first series, designed in 1997, includes the sculptures Giacca (Jacket), Guanto (Glove), Scarpa (Shoe) and Testa (Head), inspired by the architect’s reflection that the pieces symbolically represent all the essential items in a man’s basic wardrobe. Over time the collection was further enlarged with Lampada (Lamp) and Tazza (Cup) (2002), Stella (Star) (2003), Cappello (Hat) (2004) and finally Borsa (Bag) (2008).
Alessandro Mendini
Architect born in Milan in 1931. He has been editor-in -chief of “Casabella”, “Modo” and “Domus” magazines. A number of books have been published in various languages on his work, alone and with the studio Alchimia. He makes objects, furniture, environments, paintings, installations, architecture. He works with international companies such as Alessi, Bisazza, Philips, Cartier, Swatch, Hermés and Venini and acts as a consultant for a number of industries, including some in the Far East, on issues in image and design. He is an honorary member of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. In 1979 and in 1981 he was awarded the Golden Compass for design. He is a “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” in France, and has been awarded honours by the Architectural League in New York and an honorary degree from Politecnico di Milano. He was professor of design at the Hochschule für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna and is an honorary professor at the Academic Council of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in China. His works may be found in numerous museums and private collections. In 1989 he and his brother, the architect Francesco Mendini, opened Atelier Mendini in Milan, designing the Alessi Factory in Omegna, the new Olympic swimming pool in Trieste, a number of metro stations and restoration of the Villa Comunale in Naples; the Byblos Art Hotel-Villa Amistà in Verona, Italy; a tower in Hiroshima, Japan; Groninger Museum in the Netherlands; a district in Lugano, Switzerland; the Madsack office building in Hannover and a shopping centre in Lörrach, Germany as well as other buildings in Europe and the U.S.A. Atelier Mendini was awarded a Gold Medal for Italian Architecture at the Triennale in Milan in 2003 for its plan for the metro system in Naples and the 2006 Villegiature Award in Paris for the Byblos Art Hotel in Verona, named “Best Hotel Architecture and Interior Design in Europe”. He acts as urban planning consultant for a number of cities in Korea.
Bisazza
Bisazza is one of the top luxury brands in the design sector and the industry’s leading producer of glass mosaics for interior and exterior decoration. Established in 1956 in Alte Vicenza, Northern Italy, the company has become a trailblazer, marked by a dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, a mastery of modern technologies, and an ability to read and anticipate the needs of the global market. During the past few years the company’s strategy has focused on strengthening the brand, producing the highest quality product and widening the distribution network through 16 branch offices, 12 flagship stores in Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Milan, New York, Paris, Rome and Tokyo and 5000 local retailers around the world.
Since 2005 Bisazza has been part of Altagamma, an association supporting the best Italian luxury brands. In 2006, Bisazza launched Home, the first collection of furniture and home accessories combining mosaic and other luxury materials. Over the years, Bisazza has worked with leading figures in architecture, design, art, and fashion including Tord Boontje, Aldo Cibic, Sandro Chia, Romeo Gigli, Michael Graves, Jaime Hayon, Alessandro Mendini, Paola Navone, Fabio Novembre, Fabrizio Plessi, Andrée Putman, Ettore Sottsass, Studio Job, Patricia Urquiola and Marcel Wanders.
First Published in Men's Passion issue #35 November 2011
