Paolo Piva Furniture
Italian, 1950-2017
Juxtaposing sleek curves with angular, geometric shapes, the sophisticated minimalism of Paolo Piva’s furniture made him one of the most significant mid-century modern designers. Using understated, classic materials such as patent leather and glass, he created furniture that is as timeless as the buildings he designed as an internationally renowned architect. Piva’s armchairs, floor lamps and other furniture pieces were built to withstand changing tastes.
Born in 1950 in Adria in northern Italy, Piva pursued his career in design and architecture at the International University of the Arts in Venice under renowned architect Carlo Scarpa. While a student, he also worked with the Akademie für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna and the Institute of History and Architecture in Venice to create a major exhibition on Viennese architecture during the socialist period.
Gaining notice during his graduate studies in Rome, Piva established himself as an up-and-coming architect. In 1980, he emerged on the international scene with an acclaimed design for the Kuwait Embassy in Qatar, which led to design commissions for buildings and factories across Western Europe. At the same time, Piva began designing furniture that reflected the clean lines and artful forms of his building style. His most popular piece was the Pyramid coffee table, with inverted pyramids supporting a glass top.
A lifelong academic, Piva began teaching at the Akademie für Angewandte Kunst in 1988, becoming a full professor in 1991. He also collaborated with top brands, including Poliform, de Sede, B&B Italia, Wittmann and Riva 1920, designing center tables, club chairs and other furniture items. He continued his design pursuits throughout his life, traveling to conferences and exhibitions internationally up until his death in 2017.
Piva gained a nomination for the Compasso d’Oro award in 1987 and was one of the architects selected to design the Science and Technology Park in Vienna in 1995. His work has been exhibited at Galerie Ulysses in Vienna and the Architekturgalerie München in Munich, as well as in the VI Mostra internazionale di Architettura della Biennale di Buenos Aires.
On 1stDibs, delve into the graceful simplicity and elegant geometry of Paolo Piva’s lighting, tables, seating, and other furniture and collectibles.
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Style: Modern
Creator: Paolo Piva
Set of 4 leather Arcosa chairs by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Zandhoven, BE
Famous Italian architect Paolo Piva designed these amazing architectural chairs.
It is a set of 4 dining chairs. The name of the chairs is Arcosa.
They were produced by B&B Italia. O...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Alanda vintage sofa by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, 1980s
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in modena, Emilia-Romagna
Alanda sofa by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia. A true design product, typical of the 1990s.
Made of Steel and upholstered in Grey color Alcantara, fully removable cover.
Armrests and head...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Fabric
Alanda Square Coffee Table by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, 1980s
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Puglia, Puglia
The Alanda coffee table, an iconic piece that inaugurated the 80s, is now a highly successful classic and refined vintage furniture complement. Our piece was produced in an Alanda ta...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Steel
1980s Paolo Piva Sofa Italian Pink Leather
By Paolo Piva
Located in Buxton, GB
ROCAILLE ANTIQUES
Experience the allure of vintage Italian design with this stunning Paolo Piva pink leather sofa. Crafted in Italy with a solid pa...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Paolo Piva Alanda Clear Glass Top & Geometric Iron Coffee Table
By Paolo Piva
Located in Toledo, OH
Geometric form iron base coffee table with a glass top titled Alanda designed by Paolo Piva. 40" x 40", 1/2" thick polished edge glass top. Very nice to excellent condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Iron
Paolo Piva Meridiana desk lamp for Stefano Cevoli
By Paolo Piva
Located in Montréal, QC
Early Paolo Piva Meridiana lamp for Stefano Cevoli, manufactured in the 1980’s. G-4 12 volt 20 watt halogen bulb.
Original G-4 halogen socket. Lamp mar...
Category
1980s Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Enamel, Steel
Piva Aluminum & Glass Expandable Dining Table Atavola 20th Century Contemporary
By Paolo Piva
Located in East Hampton, NY
This collectible, highly functional metal and glass table easily expands in size in seconds by sliding outward. It's elegant and minimalist design is perfect within any contemporary ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Metal
Great Paolo Piva B&B Italian Table Coffee Alanda Design Minimalist 1980 Black
By Paolo Piva
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Great Paolo Piva B&B Italian table coffee Alanda Design Minimalist 1980 Black.
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Metal
Halogen Floor and Table Lamp from Stephano Cevoli Gold-Plated, 1980s, Italy
By Stefano Cevoli, Paolo Piva
Located in Rijssen, NL
Minimalist, modern, tall and elegant counterweight halogen floor and wall lamp designed in 1983 by Paolo Francesco Piva. With high quality material and great attention to detail.
...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Gold
Paolo Piva, Alanda, Sofa, B&B Italia, 1980s
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in Paris, FR
Paolo Piva
Alanda
A rectangular two-seater sofa with mobile headrests and armrests covered with its multicolored original fabric upholstery.
Original edition by B&B Italia.
With B&B Italia label.
Italy.
Circa 1980.
Dimensions
Height : 74 cm With headrests raised : 88 cm
Width : 210 cm With armrests raised : 194 cm
Depth : 106 cm With headrests raised : 86 cm
Height of seat : 42 cm
Literature
Domus 633, November 1982, p.26-29
Domus 634, December 1982, p.22-23
Giuliana Gramigna, Repertorio del design italiano 1950-2000 per l'arredamento domestico, Umberto Allemandi, 2003, p.277
Mario Mastropietro, Rolando Gorla, Un’industria per il design : la ricerca i designers, l’immagine B&B Italia, Edizioni Lybra Immagine, Milano, 1986, p.394-397.
Paolo Piva
Paolo Piva was born in Adria in 1950. He studied architecture at the Venice Istituto Universitario di Architettura under the direction of Carlo Scarpa and Carlo Aymonino.
He practiced architecture and industrial design mainly in Italy and Austria.
In 1990, he became a professor at the Hochschule für Angewande Kunst in Vienna.
He designed factories in Italy, such as in Misinto for B&B Italia, galeries such as Schullin in Vienna for which he was awarded the « Adolf Loos » prize in 1994.
In 1996, he designed book-shops and cafeterias for the Venetian Civic Museums.
The same year, he participated in the 6th International Exhibition of Architecture at the Venice Biennale.
Alanda
The idea behind the Alanda was to create a « mobile » piece of furniture.
Developed with the B&B Research Centre, the mechanism allows different positions following the changing needs of the user.
« Alanda was conceived as an open object...
Category
1980s French Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Fabric
De Sede DS-218/55 Barstool in Off White Upholstery by Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Plays a decisive role in moulding the character of a room. A focus on clear-cut structures, cubist forms, straight lines and a Minimalist selection of materials. A unique combination...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather
De Sede DS-218/05 Stool in Black Upholstery by Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Plays a decisive role in moulding the character of a room. A focus on clear-cut structures, cubist forms, straight lines and a Minimalist selection of materials. A unique combination...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather
De Sede DS-218/15 Stool in Black Upholstery by Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Plays a decisive role in moulding the character of a room. A focus on clear-cut structures, cubist forms, straight lines and a minimalist selection of materials. A unique combination...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather
B&B Italia by Paolo Piva Alanda Glass Coffee Table, 1980s
By Paolo Piva, B&B Italia
Located in Zagreb, HR
Alanda coffee table is a true design classic of the 20th century.
Originally it was designed by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia in the 1980s.
The minimalist architectural form of the ...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Paolo Piva 'Madison Square' Coffee Table
By Paolo Piva, Wittmann
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful modern coffee table by Paolo Piva for Wittmann, Austria, in dark wenge veneer on a light cubic stainless steel frame, marked.
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Stainless Steel
Pair of Vintage Desk Lamp Lumen Form Oliver by Paolo Piva, 1960
By Paolo Piva
Located in Biella, IT
Lumenform two desk lamp Oliver by Paolo Piva design years ’60 .
Good vintage condition.
Category
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Plastic
1980s, Floor Lamp Meridiana ' Terra ' by Paolo Piva, Italy
By Paolo Piva, Stefano Cevoli
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Giant oversize Meridiana Terra floor lamp measure up against Meridiana table lamp.
The table one ( Vermezzo MI ) with similar motif come with order. Rated at 20 watts. Togle swit...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
De Sede DS-218/05 Stool in Black Upholstery by Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva, De Sede
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Plays a decisive role in moulding the character of a room. A focus on clear-cut structures, cubist forms, straight lines and a Minimalist selection of materials. A unique combination...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather
Gold-Plated Halogen Table Lamp 'Meridiana' by Stephano Cevoli, 1980s, Italia
By Paolo Piva
Located in St- Leonard, Quebec
Modern, elegant Minimalist table lamp designed by Paolo Piva in very good condition.
Measures: 20.5 inches high.
Regular two pin halogen light bulb ra...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Gold
Paolo Piva ‘Re Quardo’ Coffee Table in Black Lacquer and Travertine, B&B Italia
By Paolo Piva
Located in London, GB
"re Quadro" coffee table By Paolo Piva For B&b Italia, 1980s.
Nothing touches, nothing clashes, which gives this piece of furniture a completely peaceful yet strong expression.
In e...
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Travertine
Set of Two Armchairs by Paolo Piva for B&B Italia, 1980s
By Paolo Piva
Located in Praha, CZ
Design armchairs designed by Paolo Piva. The iron mechanism on the back leg allows easy movement of the chair on the floor. Very good original condition.
Category
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Steel
Alanda Coffee Table by Paolo Piva with Square Glass and Metal Structure
By B&B Italia, Paolo Piva
Located in Renens, CH
Alanda coffee table by Paolo Piva with square glass and metal structure
This beautiful and minimalist coffee table is composed by a glass top with rounded edges sitting on an almo...
Category
1980s European Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Metal
De Sede DS-218/55 Barstool in Off White Upholstery by Paolo Piva
By De Sede, Paolo Piva
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Plays a decisive role in moulding the character of a room. A focus on clear-cut structures, cubist forms, straight lines and a Minimalist selection of materials. A unique combination...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather
Orange Armchair by Paolo Piva for Wittmann, Model Aura
By Paolo Piva, Wittmann
Located in Schagen, NL
Circular forms combined with straight, this elegant armchair was designed by Paolo Piva for Wittmann, Austria.
The chair features an orange and yellow upholstery and black feet with a silver colored...
Category
Late 20th Century Austrian Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Plastic
De Sede DS-218/15 Stool in Black Upholstery by Paolo Piva
By De Sede, Paolo Piva
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Plays a decisive role in moulding the character of a room. A focus on clear-cut structures, cubist forms, straight lines and a minimalist selection of materials. A unique combination...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather
Wittmann Black Leather Armchair Model Ducale Cube Design by Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva, Wittmann
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Leather Armchair by Austrian - Italian architect Paolo Piva.
Model Ducale manufactured by Wittmann.
Black Semianiline leather. The design is a cube design with little curves.
2 ch...
Category
Early 2000s Austrian Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Wood, Leather, Upholstery
Paolo Piva, 1 armchair Edition WITTMANN circa 1980
By Paolo Piva, Wittmann
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Paolo Piva, 1armchair, Edition WITTMANN circa 1980
Category
1980s French Modern Vintage Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Metal
De Sede Leather Lounge Chair Armchair Creme Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva, De Sede
Located in Munich, Bavaria
De Sede leather armchair designed by Paolo Piva.
Great comfort and a Classic timeless design by De Sede.
With patina on the leather and beec...
Category
1990s Swiss Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
Wittmann Leather Armchair Chair Model Alta Design by Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva, Wittmann
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Leather armchair by Austrian, Italian architect Paolo Piva.
Model Alta manufactured by Wittmann.
Cognac aniline leather. The design is a basic design from the model aura.
Wittmann...
Category
1990s Austrian Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
Wittmann Leather Armchair Chair Model Alta Design by Paolo Piva
By Paolo Piva, Wittmann
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Leather armchair by Austrian - Italian architect Paolo Piva.
Model Alta manufactured by Wittmann.
Blue aniline leather. The design is a basic design from the model aura.
Wittmann ...
Category
1990s Austrian Modern Paolo Piva Furniture
Materials
Leather, Upholstery, Wood
Paolo Piva furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Paolo Piva furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paolo Piva furniture, although black editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 84 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 8 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Paolo Piva were created in the modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Giotto Stoppino, Anna Castelli Ferrieri, and Giovanni Offredi. Prices for Paolo Piva furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $398 and can go as high as $15,600, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,464.