When discussing Italian architect Giovanni Michelucci, it is difficult to decide which is the more impressive achievement: his more than half-century track record of notable projects, which includes designing and restoring some of Tuscany’s most famous landmarks, or his nearly century-long life. While he is often remembered for passing away just two days before his centennial birthday, in the same breath he is memorialized for his exceptional contributions to Tuscan architecture, including Florence’s Santa Maria Novella Train Station, Palazzo delle Poste and restored rooms inside the legendary Uffizi Gallery.
Michelucci’s practice began in childhood, at his family’s artistic metal workshop. There, he rubbed elbows with many passing artists and architects before pursuing design academically at Florence’s Istituto Superiore di Architettura. Michelucci graduated in 1911 and embarked on a long teaching career. By the early 1920s, he was instructing at the Istituto d’Arte of Rome and later at the Istituto Superiore di Architettura, from 1928 until 1936. He served as dean of the school’s architectural faculty twice during the 1940s and founded the magazine La Nuova Città between the two appointments. He left Florence in 1948 to become a professor at the School of Engineering in Bologna, where he remained until his retirement.
Other significant architectural projects dot Michelucci ‘s career, like the Santa Maria Novella church and church of St. John the Baptist. Often working in collaboration with the Grouppo Tuscano, a collective of young architects, Michelucci beat out more than 100 other bidders on multiple contracts to bring his modernist, rationalist approach to Italy’s architectural landscape.
In his hometown of Pistoia, as well as Fiesole, Michelucci formed the Fondazione Giovanni Michelucci, which undertook social projects targeted at prisons, hospitals and asylums within the cities. He dedicated the rest of his life toward using architecture to address social challenges — a cause the foundation continues to support today.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Giovanni Michelucci lighting, case pieces and tables.
Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova Five 'Torbecchia' Dining Chairs in Walnut
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova, set of five 'Torbecchia' dining chairs, walnut, rush, Italy, circa 1964. This dining set was designed by the Italian architect and designer Giova...
Fabric, Walnut
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chair for Poltronova, 1964
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, Italy, 1964. Crafted from dark-stained beechwood with woven straw seats, the "Torbecchia" dining chairs for Poltronova...
Straw, Wood
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 6
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” dining chairs for Poltronova, Italy, 1964, set of six. Crafted from dark-stained beechwood with woven straw seats, the "Torbecchia" dining chairs fo...
Straw, Wood
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 2
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, Italy, 1964, set of two. Crafted from dark-stained beechwood with woven straw seats, the "Torbecchia" dining chairs fo...
Straw, Wood
$22,000 / set
H 26.19 in W 22.05 in D 22.05 in
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 10
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” dining chairs for Poltronova, metal, Italy, 1964, set of ten Designed in 1964 by Gae Aulenti, the “Locus Solus” dining chairs are a vivid expression of Ita...
Metal
$3,900 / set
H 28 in W 17.7 in D 15 in
Giovanni Michelucci "Torbecchia" Series Dining Chairs by Poltronova, Set of 6
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of six dining chairs, designed by Giovanni Michelucci from the Torbecchia series and produced by Poltronova in the 1960s. The design uses a simple wooden structure, reflecting hi...
Rush, Wood
$55,000 / set
H 38 in W 24.75 in D 23 in
George Nakashima Set of Six Walnut "New" Dining Chairs, 1964-5
By George Nakashima
Located in Astoria, NY
George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) Set of Six Walnut "New" Dining Chairs, 1964-5, comprising two armchairs and four side chairs, with copy of receipt from Nakashima Foundation fo...
Walnut
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Solid Walnut Bench, 1960s
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Dronten, NL
A sculptural and profoundly architectural piece, this “Torbecchia” bench by Giovanni Michelucci exemplifies the masterful balance between craftsmanship and modernist form that define...
Walnut
$12,000 / set
H 26.19 in W 22.05 in D 22.05 in
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 6
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” Dining Chair for Poltronova, metal, Italy, 1964, set of six Designed in 1964 by Gae Aulenti, the “Locus Solus” dining chairs are a vivid expression of Ital...
Metal
$12,003 / set
H 31.11 in W 19.69 in D 20.87 in
Set of 4 Niels Otto Moller 1964 Dining Chairs with Arms of Teak
By Niels Otto Møller
Located in London, GB
This set of four teak dining chairs by Niels Otto Moller. Round label dates these chairs as made between 1964 and 1969. Chairs require new black leather, which is included in listing...
Teak
$691
H 28.75 in W 23.23 in D 17.72 in
sedia poltronova modello elisa design giovanni battista bassi 1964
By Poltronova
Located in taranto, IT
Sedia poltroncina modello "Elisa", disegnata da Giovanni Battista Bassi per Poltronova nel 1964. Misura cm 71 di altezza, cm 50 di profondità, cm 60 di larghezza e cm 45 di altezza...
Wood
$4,500 / set
H 26.19 in W 22.05 in D 22.05 in
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, Black, 1964, Set of 2
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” dining chairs for Poltronova, black metal, Italy, 1964, set of two Designed in 1964 by Gae Aulenti, the “Locus Solus” dining chairs are a vivid expression ...
Metal
$13,500 / set
H 26.19 in W 22.05 in D 22.05 in
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, Black, 1964, Set of 6
By Gae Aulenti, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” dining chairs for Poltronova, metal, Italy, 1964, set of six Designed in 1964 by Gae Aulenti, the “Locus Solus” dining chairs are a vivid expression of Ita...
Metal
Giovanni Offredi P80 dining chairs Saporiti Italy 1973
By Saporiti, Giovanni Offredi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
These Model P80 dining chairs, designed by Giovanni Offredi and manufactured by Saporiti Italia in 1973, are a striking example of mid-century Italian design. The chairs feature cast...
Metal
$14,400 / set
H 28.75 in W 20.08 in D 20.48 in
Giovanni Carini for Planula Set of Twelve 'Libellula' Dining Chairs in Canvas
By Planula, Giovanni Carini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Giovanni Carini for Planula, set of twelve 'Libellula' dining chairs, canvas, lacquered steel, steel, Italy, ca. 1969 Giovanni Carini’s Libellula chairs for Planula are made from s...
Steel
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” Dining Chair for Poltronova, 1964
By Poltronova, Gae Aulenti
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gae Aulenti “Locus Solus” Dining Chair for Poltronova, 1964 Designed in 1964 by Gae Aulenti, the “Locus Solus” dining chairs are a vivid expression of Italy’s radical design movemen...
Metal
Sold
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 20.48 in
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 4
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” dining chairs for Poltronova, Italy, 1964, set of four. Crafted from dark-stained beechwood with woven straw seats, the "Torbecchia" dining chairs f...
Straw, Wood
Sold
H 31.5 in W 19.3 in D 17.72 in
Giovanni Michelucci's set of six "Torbecchia" Dining Chairs, designed for Poltro
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Almelo, NL
Giovanni Michelucci's set of six "Torbecchia" Dining Chairs, designed for Poltronova in Italy 1964. Giovanni Michelucci's set of six "Torbecchia" Dining Chairs, designed for Poltron...
Rush, Walnut
Giovanni Michelucci 'Torbecchia' Italian dining chairs
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in BE
Giovanni Michelucci 'Torbecchia' dining chairs Beautiful dining chairs by renowned Italian designer Giovanni Michelucci. He designed these chairs in the 1960s for the famous manufac...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.14 in W 20.48 in D 16.93 in
G. Michelucci for Poltronova Italian Midcentury Wood Leather Dining Chairs 1960s
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Set of four dining chairs from the Torbecchia S.20 series designed by Giovanni Michelucci and produced by Poltronova with walnut frame and leather upholst...
Leather, Nutwood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 20.48 in
Torbecchia Chairs in walnut and rush, Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova, 1960s
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in amstelveen, NL
Set of 8 dining chairs from the Torbecchia series, designed by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova in 1964. Solid walnut structure with seats upholstered in rush. The solid wood chai...
Straw, Walnut