Achilles
A strange thing happens once you are aware of it, you see it all the time; from there on, it seems to shadow you. For the unaware, Achilles Castiglioni could be your ‘shadow’. His designs are all around you and you probably don’t know it.
Achilles Castiglioni, 1918 - 2002.
Based in Milan, Achilles Castiglioni passed away in 2002, but the breadth of his ideas and creations will live long. Castiglioni designed chairs, buildings, installations and objects, but he is probably most known for his imprint on lighting design, specifically lamps. His designs are everywhere and they comfortably straddle the decades of the 20th century, from 60’s plastic pop to Italian formalism. Castiglioni landed in a period of technological advancement that perfectly aligned to his natural curiosity and his desire to explore materials and how each element (of an object) could shape something new. His pieces reflect an approach to design, not an aesthetic. His belief was that appearances are secondary to a commitment to a consistent design process.
Achilles Castiglioni studio, Milan.
This process often explored ideas of paradox, like the Arco lamp which creates an intimate light source from far away, or the Taccia lamp which uses reflected light not a direct light source or the Sella (saddle) seat which paradoxically marries a seat and movement.
Arco lamp, by Achilles Castiglioni.
Snoopy lamp, by Achilles Castiglioni.
Perhaps most impressive, is his design (and invention) of the ‘in line cord switch’ that we see on nearly every table lamp today. His idea of beauty is more than skin deep and here beauty is illustrated in its simplicity. This switch simplifies the act of turning a light on and off. “Why didn’t l think of that?”, said every inventor
Inline switch by Achilles Castiglioni.
Having attended the School of the Polytechnic of Milan, there is now a Foundation that gives design and architecture students access to The Achilles Castiglioni studio. Like Castiglioni’s design partners, Cesare Colombo, Pier Giacomo and Luigi Caccia Dominioni, students and prospective collaborators can now leverage off the embedded heritage within the walls and objects scattered throughout the multiple rooms of his studio and courtyard garden in Milan.
Have a look around, you might just see an Achilles Castiglioni design near you.
SW.