Ash Wood Chair BABELA by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Tacchini

Giving Life to Everyday Products through Visionary Designs

Achille Castiglioni, a brilliant Italian designer, is renowned for his lighting and furniture design. Although he was based in Milan, he gained significant recognition on an international scale. Castiglioni's approach to design was marked by his affinity for the integral design process. He had an inclination for repurposing existing materials and objects, incorporating them with new life and form.

Castiglioni's career was shaped by the collaborative influence of his older brothers, Livio Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (Livio stopped working with the trio early on). Initially, their collaboration revolved around exhibition design and architectural ventures. As their partnership evolved, they embarked on more significant endeavors, including the design of various product series.

A famous lighting product created by the Castiglioni brothers was the Suspension Lamp SALISCENDI for Stilnovo. They also created revolutionary technological design products, such as the RADIOFONOGRAFO for Brionvega. Achille created furniture designs for the SANCARLO series (sofa, armchair) and then the brothers worked together on the BABELA chair for Tacchini. Moreover, for Zanotto, they created unique chairs/stools which are - STELLA, PRIMATE and MEZZADRO.

Achille Castiglioni’s works were recognized by plenty of awards from prestigious institutions, within Italy and abroad. A few to name would be the Compasso d’Oro (golden compass) and recognition from the Royal College of Art in London. There were also important museum exhibitions that took place, which honored Castiglioni, such as the Seoul Arts Centre, MoMa and Triennale di Milano.

Discover our selection of products by Achille Castiglioni, in which his creative approach to materials has left an impressive legacy of products.

Taking Advantage of Industrialization through Design

Pier Giacomo Castiglioni had a diverse skill set and was involved in various areas of design, including architecture, exhibition design, furniture, product, and lighting design. He also taught at Politecnico University of Milan, sharing his wisdom and inspiring numerous individuals with his expertise. During World War II, Pier worked together with his older brother Livio Castiglioni on product and exhibition design. Their younger brother Achille Castiglioni joined them right after the war. Together they were a team and each other’s support system. They truly embodied the essence of "Made in Italy." However, a few years later Livio left the team, leaving Pier Giacomo and Achille to continue a partnership that ended up being lifelong.

The Castiglioni brothers benefited from the new materials and technologies that were developed during wartime. The products they created together included both a blend of traditional aesthetic, along with modern functionality and manufacturing techniques. In addition, a surge in industrialisation caused products to become cheaper through mass production. Some of the most famous products created were for Stilnovo- the SILLABA wall lamps and the MINIBOX lamps. They also worked as design consultants for Brionvega and worked together on the BABELA chair for Tacchini. Also, for Zanotto, they created some unique chairs/stools- STELLA, PRIMATE and MEZZADRO.

Their design products are celebrated and appreciated in the museum collections of the Royal Institute of British Architects and in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Pier Castiglioni also received multiple awards which include: 5 Compasso d’Oro awards, 1 Triennale Bronze Medal, 2 Silver Medals, 2 Gold Medals, and 2 Triennale Grand Prix.