For eight years, Italian architecture and design studio Archizoom Associati challenged modernism and aligned itself with what we now call Radical Design, an avant-garde art movement established largely in Florence that produced exuberant conceptual furnishings and objects that were neither practical nor very commercial. Through iconic works like the Sanremo floor lamp and the Mies lounge chair, Archizoom and other proponents of the movement protested functionalism and explored form, color and material in a way that countered the existing social order.
Founded in 1966 by University of Florence students Andrea Branzi, Gilberto Corretti, Massimo Morozzi and Paolo Deganello, Archizoom questioned mass consumerism and the validity of rapid postwar modernization in their native country. In their architecture initiatives, interiors, installations, furniture and more, Archizoom's members were pioneers of postmodernism — future Memphis Group cofounder Ettore Sottsass was also part of the Radical Design movement — and alongside likeminded collectives such as Superstudio, Ziggurat and UFO, Archizoom drew on Pop art, Minimalism and Arte Povera to expand upon the expressive potential of design. Branzi and his peers were also deeply influenced by the visionary work of London architecture collective Archigram — so much so that the group’s name is inclusive of Zoom, which is the name of a zine published by the British collective.
In Archizoom’s No-Stop City — an unbuilt architecture project — the urban area is stripped bare, a featureless monochromatic expanse that sees built structures meeting nothing more than the basic needs of human existence. The group’s Mies lounge chair — a tribute to early modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe — was developed for Poltronova and hardly resembles a chair at all. It is not until one sits down that the detached bench seat combines with the backrest and becomes a full seat. The human body bonds the pieces together to make a chair that is surprisingly functional — and even compact.
The Radical Design movement is experiencing something of a renaissance, and Archizoom Associati’s works featured prominently in 2020’s “Radical: Italian Design 1965-1985” at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The collective’s designs were given a global stage in the classic 1972 exhibition “Italy : The New Domestic Landscape” at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, but most of the groups associated with Radical Design dissolved by the mid-1970s. The Mies lounge chair is held in MoMA’s permanent collection.
Find vintage Archizoom Associati seating, lighting and tables on 1stDibs.
$499Sale Price / item|50% Off
Post Modern Black Leather UNO chairs with chrome tube frame Archizoom
By Archizoom Associati
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Black leather and tubular cantilever chrome "Uno" chair made by Marcatre and designed in 1973 by Paolo Deganella and Gilberto Corretti members of the Italian "Archizoom" group in Flo...
Chrome
Post Modern Perforated Steel and Chrome Arm Chair c. 1980's
By Shiro Kuramata
Located in New York, NY
Chic perforated steel and chrome arm chair, in excellent original, clean and ready to use condition. The chair features a perforated steel seat, back and arms, which are supported by...
Steel, Chrome
$1,722 / item
H 34.26 in Dm 14.57 in
PH Snake Chair, Chrome, Leather Extreme Black, Leather Upholstery, Visible Tubes
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH Snake Chairs flowing lines within its steel tube design are inspired by the strong yet flexible body of a snake. It is multi-use and fits any roo...
Chrome
$1,248
H 33.86 in W 22.05 in D 20.48 in
Austrian post-modern red leather and black wood chair by Thonet, 1990s
By Thonet
Located in MIlano, IT
Austrian post-modern red leather and black wood chair by Thonet, 1990s Chair with square seat covered in bright red leather with black lacquered wooden structure, with matt finish. T...
Leather, Wood
$1,250 / item
H 32.29 in W 23.23 in D 20.48 in
Post-Modern Style Aurora Chair in Sculpted Walnut Finish with Cane and Leather
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
The Aurora collection aka Dawn marks a new exiting moment in our design history, in where we dove deep in to the creativity unknown, to create a collection that would be able to hold...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Faux Leather, Cane, Hardwood, Walnut
$1,250 / item
H 32.29 in W 23.23 in D 20.48 in
Post-Modern Style Aurora Chair in Sculpted Solid Wood with Cane Back and Leather
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
The Aurora collection aka Dawn marks a new exiting moment in our design history, in where we dove deep in to the creativity unknown, to create a collection that would be able to hold...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Faux Leather, Cane, Hardwood, Walnut
Pair of 1973 Marcatré "Uno" Leather and Chrome Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Black Leather and Tubular Cantilever Chrome "Uno" Chairs Made by Marcatré and Designed in 1973 by Paolo Deganella and Gilberto Corretti - Members of the Italian "Archizoom" ...
Chrome
Pair Of Post-Modern Club Chairs
By Preview
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Post-Modern Club Chairs. Offered is a splendid rare pair of club chairs, lounge chairs or side chairs designed Preview Furniture Company in the early 1990's. We have taken th...
Bouclé, Wood
$1,250 / item
H 32.29 in W 23.23 in D 20.48 in
Post-Modern Style Aurora Chair in Black Ebonized with Cane Back and Leather
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
The Aurora collection aka Dawn marks a new exiting moment in our design history, in where we dove deep in to the creativity unknown, to create a collection that would be able to hold...
Leather, Textile, Upholstery, Faux Leather, Cane, Hardwood, Walnut
$520Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 25 in D 24 in
Mid Century Post Modern Royal Blue Chrome & Walnut Accent Chair
By Knoll
Located in Madison, WI
Chrome framed Side / accent / lounge / Office chair in the manner of Knoll has walnut armrests & royal blue wool upholstery in good condition. The upholstery could use a good cleaning. Very comfortable Original Mid Century Modern accent chair...
Chrome
$2,280 / item
H 35.44 in W 19.49 in D 19.49 in
Institutional Chair, White Leather, Post-Modern Design, Panorammma, Mexico
By Panorammma
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
Uncannily challenging excessive symbolic power granted to scientific institutions, the “Institutional Chair” reveals a tension with the accepted desubjectivisation of the body into s...
Steel, Nickel
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 36 in D 32 in
Post-Modern Lounge Chairs by Otto Zapf for Knoll, Black Leather, 1988
By Knoll
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of Otto Zapf for Knoll International black leather lounge chairs, Marked as manufactured in 1988 . These chairs are large in scale and impactful. The plush lounge chairs ...
Leather
$680 / set
H 31.5 in W 19.69 in D 21.66 in
Italian modern black leather and chromed steel cockpit chairs, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black leather and chromed steel cockpit chairs, 1970s. Chairs with tub shape, with armrests and chromed steel structure. The seat and back of the chair are in their or...
Steel
$2,881 / item
H 29.14 in W 22.84 in D 19.69 in
Contemporary Chair 'BAIA' by Kensaku Oshiro x DK3, Chrome Frame, Black Leather
By Kensaku Oshiro, DK3
Located in Paris, IDF
BAIA dining chair Steel frame, wooden or upholstered backrest Model shown on main image: Frame: Chrome Backrest: Leather Fabric: Black Pelle leather Dimensions: H.74 x 58 x 50 cm ...
Steel, Chrome
$4,538 / set
H 32.68 in W 16.74 in D 21.26 in
Post Modern Style Ten Leather Burgundy Red Black Silver Dining Chairs 1980
Located in Vienna, AT
Post-modern style set of ten vintage dining chairs of chairs from beech, leather and metal in the colors red, black and silver designed and made in Italy, 1980s. Wonderful ten vintag...
Metal
$1,722 / item
H 34.26 in Dm 14.57 in
PH Snake Chair, Chrome, Leather Extreme Walnut, Leather Upholstery, Visible Tube
By Poul Henningsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
The PH snake chairs flowing lines within its steel tube design are inspired by the strong yet flexible body of a snake. It is multi-use and fits any roo...
Chrome
Pair of "Mies" Lounge Chairs by Archizoom Associati Italy
By Archizoom Associati
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Pair of " MIES " lounge chairs by ARCHIZOOM ASSOCIATI Italy.
Chrome, Steel