A Maestro's Touch

Meet one of the brightest design minds in architecture, interior and furniture design – Antonio Citterio

-  Joe Lim

Antonio Citterio is a man that needs no introduction if you’re into furniture design. The two-times Compasso d’Oro winner (1987 and 1995), Citterio pushes the boundaries of design with his exceptional and outstanding architectural and industrial works. Born in 1950 in Meda, Citterio graduated from the Polytechnic of Milan. A highly sought-after designer, he has worked for a number of leading manufacturers including Arclinea, Flexform, Flos, Maxalto, Kartell, and Vitra, to name a few. He is the art director for both the B&B Italia and Maxalto brands, and the architect behind the group's retail showrooms around the world. In 1999, together with Patricia Viel, he founded Antonio Citterio and Partners, a multidisciplinary practice for architectural design, industrial design and graphics.

The firm operates in the fields of product design, architectural and interior design (in both the private and public sectors), space planning, retail and showroom design, corporate image and location design. Antonio Citterio and Partners quickly rose to prominence with a series of projects for the luxury hotel chain Bulgari Hotels and Resorts – first for the inaugural Bulgari Hotel in Milan in 2004, followed by the Bulgari Resort in 2006, then the Bulgari restaurant and cafe in Tokyo in 2007. In that same year, Citterio received the Royal Designer for Industry award from the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in London.

A BODY OF WORK

Citterio has worked for B&B Italia for decades. His most famous pieces are the Charles, Ray, Richard, and Diesis, to name a few. In 2018, he designed Atoll sofa system for the company.