Gae Aulenti

Gae Aulenti – Architecture studies in Milan; first successes as a designer

Gau Aulenti was born Gaetana Aulenti on 4 December 1927 in the Palazzolo dello Stella in the Italian province of Udine, later shortening her first name to Gae. She studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano, graduating with a diploma in 1954 as one of only two women. Her true interest lay in art, but amongst the ruins of post-war Italy, a career as architect seemed more promising. Aulenti initially worked as a designer, creating furniture and lighting for renowned Italian companies such as Olivetti and Artemide, and held a position as editor and graphic designer at the architecture and design magazine Casabella from 1955 to 1965. She taught as academic assistant in the 1960s at her old university in Milan as well as the University of Venice. One of her first great successes on a national level was the design of the Italian Pavilion for the 13th Architecture Triennale in Milan. 

Prestigious architecture projects in Paris, Venice and Barcelona

In 1970, Gae Aulenti founded her own architecture office. Her acquaintance with the rebellious theatre director Luca Ronconi encouraged her to design stage sets, but she celebrated her international breakthrough with the prestigious development of the Paris station Gare d’Orsay into an art museum. Her concept was by no means uncontroversial and met with fierce resistance. However, this was seen as a good sign for the originator: if a design was met with universal approval, something wasn’t right, explained Aulenti with her usual consistency and determination. The decision fell eventually in favour of the resolute Italian, and one year after the completion of her masterpiece, the French President François Mitterand appointed her a Member of the Legion d’Honneur. In the years that followed, she received further significant commissions, was significantly involved in the transformation of the Musée d’Art Modern into the Centre Georges-Pompidou in Paris, as well as the rebuilding of the Palazzo Grassi in Venice and the Museu Nacional d’Art Catalunya in Barcelona.

Gae Aulenti produced world-famous designs

Gae Aulenti acquired her merits not only as an architect but also as a designer. Many of her pieces are counted today amongst the classics of interior design and have written art history. Her sofa table, Tavolo con Ruote, made up of only four thick rolls and equally think glass sheet can be admired in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. No less famous is her table light Pipistrello (Bat), which has met with unbroken enthusiasm from buyers and users since 1965. Her colourful steel tube furniture from the series Locus Solus also found their way into film history with Romy Schneider and Alain Dion taking a seat on them in the classic film Swimmingpool. 

Gau Aulenti died in Milan on 31 October 2012. Her daughter Giovanna Buzzi is a costume designer, and her granddaughter Nina Artioli also heads an architecture office and manages the estate of her famous grandmother.