Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Pier Giacomo Castiglioni and his brother, Livio Castiglioni, founded their architecture practice, Studio Castiglion, in 1938, designing buildings, interiors, and design objects. In 1944, Pier's younger brother Achille Castiglioni joined the studio and used their design skills to restore buildings damaged during the Second World War. This work demonstrated the skill and passion the Castiglionis had for their craft. Eventually, Livio left to found his own practice in 1953 and left Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni to keep the studio going by themselves.

These were the years that Achille Castiglioni & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni flourished in the 50s and 60s in an intense period of creativity in the world of Italian modernist design. Some of their designs within these decades still live on as products today that are seen as modern-day classics. Designs such as the Acro floor lamp has been one of the most well-loved and well-known products that started a revolution in modern floor lamps.

“There has to be irony, both in design and in the objects. I see around me a professional disease of taking everything too seriously. One of my secrets is to joke all the time.” – Achille Castiglioni