By Adriana Baranello
Architect and designed Gianfranco Frattini was born 6 April 1926 in Padua. Frattini was one of the architects and designers who defined Italian design in the 1950s and 1960s. He graduate with a degree in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 1953, after which he apprenticed with Gìo Ponti. Frattini became involved in industrial design, almost by accident, because he could not find appropriate furniture or lighting for his rooms. He would go on to collaborate with Cesare Cassina (founder of the onomastic design firm), and extensively with Livio Castiglione with whom he would design the Boalum Lamp. He also collaborated with several other important manufacturers, including Knoll, Fantoni and Artemide. Fattini was a co-founder of the Associazione per il Disegno Industriale, and a board member for the Triennale di Milano.
References:
Archivio di Gianfranco Frattini, http://www.gianfrancofrattini.com/.
Chair Model 849, produced by Cassina, 1956.
Desk Model 804, produced by Berini, 1961.
w. Gìo Caroli, Gold Necklaces, 1975.
Abele Desk Lamp, produced by Luci, 1979.
w. Livio Castiglioni, Boalum Lamp, produced by Artemide, 1970. Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum, New York.
Apartment Interior, Portofino, 1971