On Friday, we visited Fondazione Vico Magistretti. I wasn’t sure what to expect because I had heard his name in discussions but I hadn’t put his work to the name yet. That’s one reason why I loved going to the Foundations! It helps make those connections so I can be like, “ah! I saw this at Artemide too!” In my head I was making all these connections from my past sketches to our trip to the Fondazione.
Vico’s grandaughter, Margherita, gave us a tour of his studio and talked about his work with anecdotes about his process sprinkled throughout. He was an architect and a designer, but called himself an architect foremost. While we were visiting we peeked at the exhibition of his architecture and building sketches. His granddaughter told us about how he never used a computer, only drew by hand. The only technology they had was a fax machine, and I think that was probably a fight his assistant had to put up!
I really enjoyed seeing all of his chairs in the studio. It gave me tons of content for my sketchbook!! My favorite chair was the saddle chair. I liked the quote that Margherita used to describe his inspiration: “using the usual in an unusual way.” Vico took the shape and form of a saddle, turned it sideways and used it as a back and arm rest for an office chair! It was surprisingly very comfortable.
*picture coming soon!
His granddaughter said he was quite the snob (haha) but a really nice man. He left behind a great legacy!