Biography

Cesare “Joe” Colombo was one of the most visionary designers of the 20th century in Italy. He studied painting at the Brera Academy and architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. Colombo began his career as a painter and sculptor within the “Movimento Nucleare,” an art movement founded by Enrico Baj that explored issues related to the nuclear age. After his father’s death, Joe Colombo turned to industrial design in the late 1950s through his connection with Bruno Munari.

Colombo saw himself as a designer of tomorrow’s interiors. His designs were shaped by the conviction that furniture should adapt to changing needs and spatial situations. A prime example of Colombo’s radical design approach is the ’Tube Chair’ from 1969. It consists of four cylindrical elements of varying sizes, covered with elastic upholstery material. Since these elements can be configured in any way, the piece can be flexibly used as an armchair, a lounger, or even an improvised bed. In addition, Colombo designed a series of other iconic pieces of furniture that remain influential to this day. Particularly noteworthy is the ‘Elda’ (1965), a spacious, swivel armchair that combines comfort with the futuristic aesthetics of the Space Age.

Colombo integrated technology into his living spaces early on. A prime example of his comprehensive approach is the apartment he designed for himself in Milan, which was featured in the magazine DOMUS in 1971. White plastic, acrylic glass, and black accents dominate the 90-square-meter modular apartment with flexible partition walls. Central elements include a bed that can be closed like a cocoon to create privacy, as well as a kitchen unit that integrates a pull-out table and seats, cooking utensils, and lighting.

Although Colombo lived only to be 41 years old, he created numerous groundbreaking designs: Among his most important awards are the Compasso d’Oro for the “Spider” chair (1967) and the “Candyzionatore” air conditioner (1970), as well as the In/Arch Award (1964) for the interior design of the Hotel Pontinental in Sardinia. In 1962, together with his brother Gianni, he designed the famous Acrilica lamp for Oluce, for which he received the gold medal at the 13th Milan Triennale in 1964. His works are exhibited in major international museums, including the MoMA in New York, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the Design Research in Cambridge.

Objects by Joe Colombo