Author Description

An overview of the accomplishments of one of the most original and enigmatic exponents of architecture in Italy this century. Carlo Mollino (1905-1973) expressed himself through his architectural designs, furniture, and interiors, in a language assimilated from futurism and surrealism. The influence of architects ranging from Gaudi to Mendelsohn, from Aalto to Le Corbusier, can be seen in his highly individual designs. Projects such as the ski station at Lago Nero, the Teatro Regio in Turin, and the Lutrario ballroom demonstrated his exceptional powers of imagination. With the demolition of his massive masterpiece, the Ippica in Turin, and the destruction of his most prestigious interiors, all that remains today of Mollino's work is his furniture. Drawing on rare photographs and documents, this important monograph reconstructs Mollino's work through more than eighty interiors and pieces of furniture spanning his career, pieces built with such bravura that they often resemble sculpture more than works of industrial design. The impact of Mollino on the recent history of architecture and taste in general is now being increasingly recognized, and this study gives us a detailed picture of his achievements. 360 illustrations, 31 in color.