Born in Milano in 1931, graduated from the
Politecnico of Milano in 1959, Mendini worked until 1970 for the architectural
company Nissoli Associati. From 1970 to 1976, he was chief editor at Casabella, innovating the magazine and orientating it towards the
Radicals. In 1973, he was a founding member of “Global Tools”. In 1977, he
founded the magazine Modo, of which he
was chief editor until 1981, and in which he carried on his research on
architecture and design. His theories on ‘banal design’, to be opposed to
functional and rational design, continue since the Radical years to his
experience as the editor of Domus (1979-85)
and his particpation in Alchymia with exhibitions and performances. In 1979,
Mendini’s was awarded the “Compasso d’oro” for his activity as a
designer. In 1981, he realised ‘Mobile Infinito’, an exhibition set up with
Alchimia, and held at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Milan. On
that occasion, he invited thirty designers, architects and artists (among which
Branzi, Sottsass and Giò Ponti) to design furniture components to be assembled,
and plan living environments. From 1979 to 1988, Mendini collaborated with firms
such as Alessi, Driade, Poltronova, Abet, Artemide, Zanotta and Swatch
International. Towards the end of the Eighties he took up again his activity as
an architect, and also realised paintings and sculptures. Since 1988, he has
been the chief editor of the magazine Ollo.
Rivista senza messaggio, which mixes images of architecture and design with
advertisements, without any definite boundaries. In 1989, he set up the
‘Atelier Mendini’ with his brother Francesco. Among his several
architectural projects, worth of a mention are the Alessi house and museum, the
Tower in Hiroshima, the Theatre in Arezzo, the Casino of Arosa, the Bus Stops in
Hanover and the Museum at Groningen, to the realisation of which he invited
architects and designers (amongst which, Coop Himmlblau).