Osvaldo Borsani - the hero of 2018. Exhibitions are dedicated to him and architects confess their love. Three projects prepared in Milan.

Divan D70, diesel. Osvaldo Borsani, 1954.

“Today we have designers who design objects, factories that create them, then probably entrepreneurs who coordinate work, and in the end, someone responsible for the brand,” says Norman Foster. “If you look at the career of Osvaldo Borsani, it becomes clear that he did all these things himself - and, moreover, before the word“ brand ”appeared. I am impressed with the high quality and complexity of his projects. ”

Bar, Diesel. Osvaldo Borsani, 1930-e.

Architect, designer and entrepreneur Osvaldo Borsani (Osvaldo Borsani, 1911–1985) was born into a cabinetmaker’s family. Having been educated at the University of Milan, he turned his father’s furniture studio into an international brand. In 1953, together with his twin brother Fulgenzio founded the company Tecno, where he worked all his life. Fulgenzio was responsible for business strategies, Osvaldo - for the creative component: he combined aesthetics with functionality, designed transforming objects, used new materials. They were in the right place at the right time: it was then that the rise of Italian design took place.

Furniture Borsani

Kreslo P40, diesel. Osvaldo Borsani, 1955. Столик, диз. Osvaldo Borsani, 1954. Table T102, Diff. Osvaldo Borsani, 1964. Tumba, Diz. Osvaldo Borsani, 1949. P38, diesel. Osvaldo Borsani, 1955.

The star of world architecture Norman Foster became the curator of the exhibition at the Milan Design Museum, presenting more than 300 objects: from handicrafts to design icons produced on an industrial scale. The second curator was Tommaso Fantoni, grandson of Osvaldo Borsani. Also an architect, he worked for 11 years at Foster + Partners.

Tommazo Fantoni and Norman Foster.

The collection of Nomos desks designed by Norman Foster was the last one released by Borsani during the lifetime of his furniture company Tecno.

• Milan Triennale, Viale Alemagna 6, до 16 сентября

Villa Borsani

Construction of a house near Milan in Varedo was completed in 1945. Originally intended for Brother Fulgenzio, she became a family patrimony: several generations of the Borsani family inherited the villa.

Villa Borsani, дом рационалистического стиля, стоит неподалеку от старой фабрики Теcnо и осталась в значительной степени неизменной: Борсани скончался в 1985 году и семья сохранила ее интерьеры практически в первозданном виде.

Tecno kinetic furniture, revolutionary for its time, with deliberately revealed mechanisms and suitable for both office and home, stands here next to the works of Osvaldo's friends - artists such as Fausto Melotti and Lucio Fontana.

Villa Borsani project: Casa Libera! is led by the co-founder of Design Miami, Amberbra Medda, who made minor stylistic changes to make the villa an exhibition object. In 2018, it can be visited during Milan Design Week and in honor of the opening of a retrospective in the Triennale.

• Varedo, Via Umberto I, 115, until September 16 (registration required)

Fed in Dimoregallery

Britt Moran and Emiliano Salchi, Dimore Studio, regularly update the interiors of their exhibition apartment on Via Solferino 11. And they are no less willing to use objects designed by Osvaldo Borsani for this, finding in them an endless source of inspiration.

The Repertorio exhibition, organized in conjunction with Archivio Osvaldo Borsani, is entirely devoted to the master's work. The furniture is displayed on platforms resembling theatrical stages. Also presented are sketches and projects from archives.

• Via Solferino 11, until 30 June