MARCO ZANUSO
MARCO ZANUSO
Our 12th and last Modernist designer for the series is the perfect segue into our modern-day lives. He was one of the first to bring modernism to the industry of serial furniture production.
Marco Zanuso (1916-2001)
Italy
Architect, Designer
Marco Zanuso studied at the Polytechnic University of Milan before serving four years in the Italian navy during World War II. Following the war, Zanuso opened his own firm and became editor of two design and architecture magazines, Domus and Casabella.
Zanuso’s work was characterized by a willingness to combine technology and industrialization with elegant, modern designs. He was known to experiment with materials that could be reproduced more easily than traditionally handcrafted designs.
One such material was a latex foam, which he used within his famous “Lady” chair design.
Lady Chair designed for Arflex, 1950s (source)
When it came to serial production, Zanuso didn’t see it as a loss to the artistry of design. Instead, he saw a prime opportunity to marry function, social and cultural contexts, innovation, and creativity. His resulting designs are a tribute to this ideal.
Now, Zanuso is credited as being one of the first to bring modernist design to his time period’s era of new technology.
MORE MODERN DESIGNS BY MARCO ZANUSO
“Antropus” Armchair for Arflex (source)
Italian Club Chairs, 1950s (source)
“Lady” Sofa for Arflex, 1950s (source)
Senior Armchair, 1950 (source)