Andrea Branzi

Born in 1938, Andrea Branzi studied architecture in his hometown of Florence. In 1966, he co-founded the highly influential architecture collective Archizoom Associati, which played a key role in defining the Radical Design movement in Italy. Archizoom’s utopian vision rested upon the belief that new materials and technologies should be harnessed in the creation of more flexible and communal urban environments. The collective produced a number of era-defining designs, including the Superonda Sofa and the Safari Sofa.

Founding his own studio in Milan in 1973, Branzi has consistently designed critically and narratively charged objects and installations, in addition to publishing theoretical books and essays, editing design publications, curating exhibitions, and lecturing extensively around the world. He initiated the foundation of the Domus Academy for postgraduate design studies and is currently Professor and Chairman of the Interior Design Faculty at the Politecnico in Milan. In 1987, he received the Compasso d'Oro award for Lifetime Achievement.