Luigi Caccia Dominioni

Luigi Caccia Dominioni (1913 - 2016) was one of the main Italian architects and urbanists of the second post-war period, and one of the precursors and founders of Italian design. He was a brilliant interpreter of Milanese and Lombard tradition. He began his professional life right after getting his degree in 1936 from the Milan Polytechnic University, when he opened a studio in the Porta Nuova district with brothers Livio and Piergiacomo Castiglioni, and dedicated his time to interior architecture, design, industrial design, competitions and outfitting.

In particular, his work in industrial design placed him as a “pioneer” at the 7th Triennale in Milan with a series of radio units designed with the Castiglioni brothers. A reference point for contemporary designers, he explored the relationship between modernity and tradition during his career, providing a definite contribution to redefining the architecture of his home city, Milan, after the second World War. His most famous works in the city are the blocks of flats in Via Ippolito Nievo, the San Felice district and the redevelopment of Piazza San Babila.

As a designer, instead, his most famous work was the Catilina armchair produced in 1957. Luigi Caccia Dominioni won the prestigious Compasso d’Oro for important projects such as the Sedia T12 Palini and the Super door. He also received the Compasso d’Oro for his career and for his objective contribution to the very definition of Italian design and the originality of its content.