Alessandro Mendini

Alessandro Mendini – Architecture course in Milan; shift towards professional journalism

Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan on 16 August 1931. He initially studied architecture at the prestigious polytechnic in Milan, gaining his diploma in 1959, and garnered his first work experience in the studio Nizzoli Associati Practi of the architect Marcello Nizzoli. Mendini soon left however, to concentrate on architectural journalism on a theoretical level. From 1970 to 1976 he held the position of chief editor at the journal Casabella which focused on radical modernised design and was thus completely in tune with the young architect’s spirit. Parallel to this, Mendini developed into one of the most important protagonists of the Radical Design movement. He was also a founding member of the Global Tools group, the roots of which lay in Casabella’s editorial team and was dedicated to the promotion of alternative design ideas. Further group members included illustrious names such as Gaetano Pesce and Ettore Sotsass. 

Old design art in new clothes: Re-design of the old master

Alessandro Mendini continued his commitment in the years that followed: in 1977 he founded the journal Modo which he directed until 1981, and in 1979 he joined the innovative studio Alchimia where he had a leading role in the development of the so-called Banal Design which took existing and established seating furniture by renowned designers and gave them a new look by using different colours and shapes. By this means, he reworked the famous Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer, the Thonet chair, and other well-known pieces – a process which Mendini himself spoke of as a re-design. In the Alchimia studio, he worked for a time with the architect and design icons Michele De Lucchi and Ettore Sottsass. The same year he joined Alchimia, he inherited the position of editor of the magazine Domus, formerly held by the late architect Gio Ponti, and one which Mendini held until 1985. This period also saw the founding of the Domus Academy, in which Mendini was also involved. Three years later, in 1988, he founded another magazine, Ollo. This would be his last. 

Committed team player and worldwide celebrated designer

Together with his brother Francesco, Alessandro Mendini ran the very successful Studio Mendini which has been responsible for a number of highly acclaimed architectural projects. Initiated by the Dutch art historian Frans Haks, a much-acclaimed new construction of the Groningen Museum - where Haks was director – took place from 1992 to 1994 in collaboration with Michele De Lucchi, Philippe Starck and Frank Stella, and Mendini designed the Paradise Tower in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. In contrast to many other artists, Alessandro Mendini never saw himself as solo and placed great value on productive collaborations with other creative thinkers for his projects. In the early 1990s, he found great circulation with his Swatch watch designs which evinced above all the artist’s inclination towards Pointillism. Alessandro Mendiini has received prizes and awards for his groundbreaking work including the Compasso d’oro twice, honorary membership of the Bezabel Academy for Art and Design in Jerusalem, the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in France, and honorary membership of the New York Association of Architects. Alessandro Menidini died on 18 February 2019 in Milan.