Mario Bellini

Italian architect and designer (born 1935)

Born in Milan in 1935, Mario Bellini is a major figure in Italian design. After graduating in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic in 1959, he established a practice in the 1960s bridging architecture, furniture, and industrial design. His long-standing collaboration with Olivetti launched a career that led him to partner with the most prestigious Italian and international houses. In the realm of furniture, his creations explore comfort, supple forms, and the possibilities of materials. Among his iconic pieces are the modular “Camaleonda” sofa, designed in 1970 for C&B Italia (later B&B Italia), the “Le Bambole” collection in 1972, and the “Cab” chair produced by Cassina in 1977. With its tufted modules that can be arranged at will, the Camaleonda has become an enduring icon of 1970s design. In parallel, Mario Bellini has led a distinguished architectural career, with cultural and civic achievements worldwide, such as the Tokyo Design Center and the renovation of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. A multiple recipient of the Compasso d’Oro, he has seen several of his creations enter the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which dedicated a solo exhibition to him in 1987.