Tecno Furniture
Eugenio Gerli (b. 1923) is an Italian architect and industrial designer known for his long-lasting collaboration with the Italian architect-designer Osvaldo Borsani and the Italian manufacturer Tecno. In 1949, Gerli graduated with a degree in engineering and began his career a year later, opening his own architectural and industrial design practice. Architecturally, the firm focused on residential and public buildings, as well as the renovation of historic Italian buildings. Notable architectural projects include the Cardiology Clinic in Laveno-Mombello (1950), the Ambasciatori Theater in Milan (1954), the renovation and restoration of the Castiglioni Palace (1903). Gerli was joined by his two sons, Enrico and Guido, in the 1970s. In 1957, Gerli began a long and fruitful collaboration with the Borsani brothers, Fulgenzio and Osvaldo Borsani (1911–85), founders of the Italian furniture manufacturing company Tecno. In 1968, Gerli and Osvaldo Borsani exhibited their revolutionary Graphis Office System (1967) at the 14th Triennale di Milano. The system, which was made up of just three basic elements, was heralded as a revolution in office furniture design because the system’s modular components allowed unlimited and customizable combinations, which could grow (or contract) with the company. The system remained a bestseller for decades, and Tecno became synonymous for technologically-advanced design. The partnership between Gerli and Tecno lasted for more than 35 years. During the 1970s, Tecno launched its Centro Progetti Tecno (CPT), an in-house team dedicated to communications and industrial design work. The team, which included Gerli, Valeria Borsani, Kugo Toru, Borsani and his son Marco, became a driving force of technologically advanced ideas in design. Although Borsani remained in charge, the purpose of the department was to present future designs as group creations. The CPT was responsible for a number of the company’s successes, including the molded plastic Modus Office Chair (1972), which won the SMAU Prize in 1973; the steel mesh Waiting System (1983), a modular seating and table concept for large public spaces; and the rebranding of Alitalia worldwide (1982–84), for which Centro Progetti Tecno was awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1984. Although Gerli's career as an architect-designer was prolific, his work is often overshadowed by his contemporaries and the legacy of his long-term partner, Osvaldo Borsani.
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal, Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Wood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal, Steel
1960s Italian Vintage Tecno Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Brass, Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal, Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Steel
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Aluminum
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Metal, Bronze
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Travertine, Aluminum, Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Brass, Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Tecno Furniture
Leather
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal, Brass
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1980s Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Leather, Rosewood
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Aluminum
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Steel, Aluminum
1960s Italian Vintage Tecno Furniture
Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal, Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal, Brass
1970s Italian Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Velvet
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Leather, Plastic, Plywood
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Velvet
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Leather, Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Fabric, Walnut
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal, Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Fabric, Wenge
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Marble, Metal
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Stainless Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Chrome
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Metal
20th Century Italian Modern Tecno Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Metal
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Chrome, Aluminum
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Brass, Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tecno Furniture
Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Brass, Steel
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Tecno Furniture
Steel