Afra and Tobia Scarpa for B&B Italia 'Dialogo Dessau' Dining Chairs
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The Dialogo Dessau chair, with its distinctive cantilevered base and integrated armrests, showcases the Scarpa duo's commitment to form and function. The chairs feature a meticulously crafted backrest and seat, fashioned from sleek black molded plastic, adding a touch of sophistication to the classic Bauhaus aesthetic. This creation exemplifies the Scarpa couple's ability to infuse a 1970s twist into timeless design principles, leaving an indelible mark on the world of furniture design.
Afra (1937-2011) & Tobia (1935-) Scarpa are a duo of Italian architects and designers mostly known for their postmodern style. Afra Bianchin was born in 1937 in Montebelluna while Tobia Scarpa, son of the architect Carlo Scarpa, was born in 1935 in Venice. The couple met when they were both studying at the Venice Institute of Architecture and married afterwards. From 1957 until 1961, Tobia worked as a glass designer at the Murano glassworks of Venini. However, in 1960, the duo started to collaborate, and they set up one of the most successful and well-known professional studios. Together, they worked for companies such as Flos Gavina, B&B Italia, and Knoll. The couple won numerous amounts of awards like the Compasso d’Oro and the International Forum Design. Throughout their career, the duo carried out commissions for well-known companies, including Benetton. Overall, their designs are known for their modernist aesthetic, prioritizing elegance and comfort. However, at the same time, their pieces are admired for the ease with which they lean towards classical designs. Moreover, the creations show their deep understanding for materials. Today, many of their works can be found in major museums such as Museum of Modern Art of New York, Musée du Louvre, National Museum of Design New York and many more.
Kindly be aware that these items are in a used condition, displaying typical signs of wear and use consistent with their age.
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Six decades, one working method
Tobia went on to work as a glass designer at the Venini glassworks in Murano, succeeding Massimo Vignelli and absorbing a hands-on understanding of materials; the couple opened their own design office in Montebelluna in 1960. His first project, the Pigreco chair, was shown at the Milan Triennale in 1959, developed for Franco Albini's university course.
Their collaboration ranged from the intimate to the industrial: the Bastiano sofa for Gavina (1961), the Coronado sofa for B&B Italia (1966), the Soriana armchair for Cassina (1968, Compasso d'Oro), an entire furniture collection in fine materials for Maxalto, and lighting for Flos including the Nuvola (1962), Seki-Han (1963) and Biagio (1968) lamps. In architecture, they designed Benetton's industrial and management complex in Castrette di Villorba and led the restoration of the Mercato Vecchio museums in Verona and the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice. The couple worked together until Afra's death in 2011; Tobia received a Compasso d'Oro for lifetime achievement in 2008 and continues to design and teach in Venice.
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