Biografia

Francesco Mendini,
architetto, è nato a Milano nel 1939. Inizia l’attività alla Nizzoli Associati con progetti di architettura, tra i quali i quartieri, i nuovi uffici e il centro sociale per l’Italsider a Taranto, e poi altri complessi in Europa ed Africa. Si concentra anche nell’industrializzazione e nell’ingegneria delle costruzioni; consulente di vari istituti di ricerca edilizia, nell’Atelier è responsabile specialmente dei lavori di architettura e di allestimento, si è occupato in particolare dello sviluppo dei negozi Swatch e Alessi.

ATELIER MENDINI srl,
a Milano è formato da circa quindici architetti, grafici e designer e ha una sezione per l’attività di ricerca e sperimentale nel campo del progetto e dei materiali. Sono associati dal 2000 Andrea Balzari, Bruno Gregori, Alex Mocika, Emanuela Morra. L’Atelier Mendini ha ricevuto la Medaglia d’oro all’architettura italiana 2003 alla Triennale di Milano per il progetto della Metropolitana di Napoli e il Villegiature Awards 2006 a Parigi per il Byblos Art Hotel  di Verona, come “Best Hotel Architecture and Interior Design in Europe”. Ha svolto lavori in varie nazioni ed è consulente per l’ urbanistica in alcune città della Corea.

Architect Alessandro Mendini
was born in Milan in 1931. He directed the magazines Casabella, Modo and Domus. Monographs on his work and his projects with the Alchimia group have been published in different languages. His focus is on objects, furniture, concept interiors, paintings, installations and architecture. International collaborations include Alessi, Philips, Cartier, Swatch and Hermès. Alessandro Mendini is a design and image consultant to many different kinds of companies, including ones in the Far East. He is an honorary member of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. In 1979 and 1981 he was awarded the Italian Compasso d’Oro of design; in France he carries the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres; he is the recipient of an honorary title from the Architectural League of New York and was also awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the Milan Polytechnic. At the Universität für angewandte Kunst in Vienna, Mendini worked as professor of design. His work is featured in many museums and private collections. With his brother Francesco Mendini he opened Atelier Mendini in 1989, designing the Alessi factory in Omegna; the new Olympic pool in Trieste; a series of subway stops in Naples; the refurbishment of the Naples City Hall, the Byblos Art Hotel in Verona; the new Trend Group headquarters in Vicenza, Italy; a commemorative tower in Hiroshima, Japan; the Groninger Museum in Holland; a district of Lugano, Switzerland; the Madsack office building in Hanover, a commercial building in Lörrach, Germany and other buildings in Europe and the USA.

Architect Francesco Mendini
was born in Milan in 1939. He started his career with Nizzoli Associates, working on the Italsider complex (an iron and steel plant) in Taranto: its residential area, offices and recreational facilities. Other architectural complexes in Europe and Africa followed. One of Francesco Mendini’s focal points is industrialization and engineering in construction. He is a consultant to different building research bureaus and the National Research Council (CNR) in Italy. Within the Atelier he is in charge of architectural projects and exhibitions. During recent years, he guided the development of stores for Swatch and Alessi.

ATELIER MENDINI srl,
employs a staff of twenty architects, graphic designers and industrial designers. Andrea Balzari, Bruno Gregori, Alex Mocika and Emanuela Morra have been junior partners of the Mendini brothers since 2000. The Atelier has a special department for project research and experimentation in materials. It has worked for clients in over thirty nations and is currently providing consultancy in city planning for several cities in Korea..