EILEEN GRAY

Dear Sophie -

The great architect designer EILEEN GRAY was a disciple of LE CORBUSIER, actively working in Paris in the 1920's & 30"s. 

Although her structures didn't survive the war, her furniture and textiles prevail, fundamental to our modernist vocabulary today.

Born in Ireland, she spent her entire adult life in France up through her 98th year. 

With love,

Mom

MARCEL BREUER

Dear Sophie -

MARCEL BREUER taught at the Bauhaus in the 1920's, then sucessfully transitioned his life and career to the United States. 

His commissions included private homes in the northeast, a wing to the Cleveland Art Museum and perhaps his most important work, the Whitney Art Museum on Madison Avenue in New York. 

With love,

Mom

GERRIT RIETVELD

Dear Sophie -

GERRIT RIETVELD was an architect, designer and ardent member of the DE STIJL movement in the Netherlands.

The Rietveld Schroder house was a commission by Mrs. Schroder who lived there her whole adult life, from 1924 until 1985.  It may be visited in Utrect, a one hour ride from Amsterdam.  

Next time!

With love,

Mom

CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH

Dear Sophie -

CHARLES RENNIE MACKINTOSH employed the theories of modernism blended with the influences of Japonisme. When this Scottish archtiect designed a space he touched every feature, from the furniture to the textiles, down to the hardware.

With love,

Mom

ADOLF LOOS

Dear Sophie -

Here is some work from the Viennese architect and designer ADOLF LOOS.  

We have to imagine what a dynamic center Vienna was during the early 20th century.  Austria was a major power and the home of great minds, including the psychoanalyst SIGMUND FREUD, the philosopher LUDWIG WITTGENSTEIN, and the composers GUSTAV MAHLER & ARNOLD SCHONBERG. 

Wow.

With love,

Mom

SOTTSASS

Dear Sophie -

ETTORE SOTTSASS was a major player in Milan, practicing architecture, industrial design, furniture and ceramics. He lead the Memphis design group which invented new forms in the 70's/80's, blending tradition with invention playfully combining materials such as patterned laminates with rare marbles.
His designs were commissioned by ALESSI and the VALENTINE typewriter he designed for OLIVETTI is one of the great objects of desire.

He also did some architectural projects including a private home near Telluride. 

If you want to know more, uncle Al is an expert! 

With love,

Mom

 

CASTIGLIONI

Dear Sophie -

ACHILLE CASTIGLIONI is among the pantheon of mid-century Milanese based industrial designers. Some of his lamps are still in production through a company named FLOS.

His home/studio is available to tour. What is most impressive is being able to walk from a beautiful workspace to a good pasta with family and a nap.

With love,

Mom

GIO PONTI

"love architecture, be it ancient or modern. 
love it for its fantastic, adventurous and solemn creations; 
for its inventions; for the abstract, allusive and figurative 
forms that enchant our spirit and enrapture our thoughts. 
love architecture, the stage and support of our lives." Gio Ponti

Dear Sophie -

GIO PONTI was a vastly prolific Italian architect, furniture deisgner and teacher along with being the founder of DOMUS, a European journal dedicated to archtiecture and design. 

His friend and collaborator was FORNASETTI, and together they worked on a range of projects including interiors and ceramics.

Faboo.

With love,

Mom

CARLO MOLLINO

Dear Sophie -

Carlo Mollino was an architect, engineer and furniture designer.  He was also a race car driver, a pilot, skier and a photographer.  A cache of Polaroids discovered after his death revealed his passion for women and the clear relationship between his organic designs to the human form.

Now when you hang in my studio you can say "hi Carlo".

With love to mia bella figlia

Mom