18 August 2010

Giovanna Castiglioni

Nicky Lobo meets Achille Castiglioni's greatest creation.

Since 2006, Giovanna Castiglioni has been guiding groups of visitors through Achille Castiglioni’s Milanese studio.

space furniture achille castiglioni

Now, she is visiting Australia to “Share the real histories behind Achille’s projects, tell to you all the story of the Studio from 1962 till today, thanks to special and unpublished sketches and images,” and also to announce that her father’s studio is becoming a foundation.

space furniture achille castiglioni

The rooms where her father spun his creative magic have an obvious personal connection for her, but they also have great significance for young designers.

space furniture achille castiglioni

“I love to give them the possibility to see a special museum where you can touch and try everything,” Giovanna says. “For this reason I love to bring with me objects and industrial design projects to universities to teach to young designers Achille’s creative design process.”

space furniture achille castiglioni

For many, Achille Castiglioni’s designs represent the golden era of Italian industrial design. Giovanna says, “A lot of people are so inspired by his work and sometime surprised by the simplicity and irony that he used to put in his projects.”

For Giovanna, these qualities are an extension of her father’s own mantra – “To be curious for everything!”

space furniture achille castiglioni

There’s some promising feedback for young local designers also – “I think that there are a lot of young designers very clever and smart,” she says. “I saw in their way of doing something similar to my father process… I believe in their attitude to make functional design. I found here several bright minds!”

space furniture achille castiglioni

While in Australia, Giovanna will be hosting a series of lectures and virtual tours in Space Furniture’s Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne showrooms.

Achille Castiglioni
achillecastiglioni.it

Space Furniture
spacefurniture.com.au