Mario Bellini: The Visionary Designer of the 20th Century
Milan-born architect and designer Mario Bellini is often regarded as a modern-day Renaissance man. His creative work spans various fields, including electronics, furniture, architecture, and automotive design, with iconic contributions in each area. Bellini’s vintage sofas, dining chairs, and other seating pieces are highly sought after, and he has received multiple prestigious Compasso d’Oro awards. Over 20 of his works are part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art.
Born in 1935, Bellini studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan before establishing his own firm in the early 1960s. He soon expanded his focus beyond architecture, initially working with the tech manufacturer Olivetti as the chief industrial design consultant from 1963 to 1991, where he oversaw the design of some of Olivetti’s most popular typewriters.
Bellini’s expertise in electronic design extended further as he created cameras for Fuji, televisions for Brionvega, and numerous audio devices for Yamaha. He also served as a design consultant for Renault and designed the interior of the 1980 Lancia Trevi for Fiat. His architectural projects span the globe, featuring modern masterpieces such as the Museum of Islamic Arts at the Louvre, the National Gallery of Victoria extension in Melbourne, the Dubai Creek Complex, and the Milan Convention Centre in his hometown.
In the realm of furniture, Bellini’s work over the last 70 years includes office furniture for Vitra, lamps for Artemide, Erco, and FLOS, porcelain for Rosenthal, and highly admired sofas and other seating for Kartell, Natuzzi, B&B Italia, Cassina, and more.
