Eugenio Gerli

Eugenio Gerli (15 July 1923 – 2 October 2013) was an Italian architect and designer. In an intense working life spanning more than six decades, Eugenio Gerli explored many different areas of his profession. He built villas, apartment blocks, office blocks, factories, banks and stores, and also restored historic buildings. He often completed his works with custom-made interiors and furniture.This diverse range of projects inspired his industrial design and today many have become icons, like the S83 chair, the PS 142 armchair Clamis, the Jamaica cabinet and the Graphis System.

Biography

Eugenio Cesare Gerli was born on 15 July 1923 in Milan; his father Guido (London 1892 - Milan 1987) was an English businessman. His mother Luciana Chiesa was the daughter of Eugenio Chiesa (Milan, 18 November 1863 - Giverny, 22 June 1930).

Eugenio Chiesa, Republican Member of Parliament, from 1922 was firmly opposed to fascism. This caused the family all sort of difficulties, culminating in the exile of Eugenio Chiesa in 1926 and the arrest of Guido, later deported to various concentration camps in Italy.

Eugenio married Marta Somarè daughter of art critic and granddaughter of painter Cesare Tallone, forebear of a family of artists including the painter Guido Tallone, the editor and typographer and pianoforte builder .

After an initial two years at the Department of Engineering

The Exhibition at the Milan Triennale dedicated to Osvaldo Borsani (held from 16 May 2018- to 16 September 2018, designed by Lord Norman Foster and Tommaso Fantoni) included sixteen works of Architecture and Design by Eugenio Gerli. This paid homage to Gerli's work and represented an important contribution to the rediscovery of this "forgotten Master" (Marco Romanelli).

Eugenio's sons Enrico and Guido, both Architects, joined their father in the Studio in 1977 and worked together on all projects.

Main architectural works Cinema Ambasciatori, Milano (1954–1955). Photo by Paolo Monti.

1950 - Cardiological Clinic Villa Adele Laveno-Mombello where (in collaboration with Mario Cristiani) he designs also the specific technical furniture. adjustable beds and reclining armchairs i 1954/55 - Ambasciatori Cinema in Milan, including all freestanding furniture as well as integrated lights. 1955 - Villa at Lago Maggiore - Portovaltravaglia 1956 - Villa Seralvo - Meda 1957 - Tecno flagship Store in via Montenapoleone - Milan - with transparent glass floors. Special Prize Formica Domus 1958 - Apartment for an art collectionist - via Mascagni - Milano 1968/1972 - Restoration and extensions of Art Nouveau Palazzo Castiglioni, Headquarters of Confcommercio (Unione Commercio e Turismo) Palazzo Castiglioni (1903) - Corso Venezia 49 - Milan 1972 - New Office Block for Headquarters of Confcommercio (Unione Commercio e Turismo) - via Marina - Milan 1971 - Villa Gatti - La Pinetina - Appiano Gentile (Como) 1972 - Club House – Golf Club La Pinetina - Appiano Gentile (Como) 1972 - Villa Orlando - La Pinetina - Appiano Gentile (Como) 1973 - Villa Casale - La Pinetina - Appiano Gentile (Como) 1974 - Villa Colombo - La Pinetina - Appiano Gentile (Como) 1974/78 - Tecno S.p.A. stores in Milan, Rome, Turin, Paris, Naples 1976/77 - ETRO S.p.A. Headquarters - via Spartaco - Milan 1979 - Villa Flenda - La Pinetina - Appiano Gentile (Como) 1982 - Project for EUR Rome Headquarters of Confcommercio (Unione Commercio e Turismo) - (with Arch. Enrico Gerli) - Rome 1983 - Villa Bonomi in Castel d'Agogna (Pavia) 1984/88 - ETRO Interior Store via Pontaccio - Milan 1985 - New Office Block for Banca Popolare della Murgia - Corato (Bari) 1987 - Project for Villa Koskotas on the hills of Athens 1987/90 - ETRO Flagship Store - via Montenapoleone - Milan 1990 - New Headquarters for ETRO S.p.A. - via Spartaco - Milan 2003 - Parlamentino (Small Parliament) - for Confcommercio (Unione Commercio e Turismo) - corso Venezia 49 Milan

E.G. Designer

Although Eugenio believed he was first and foremost an architect, today, he is remembered primarily for his furniture design. Some of his projects have become design classics and stand in some of the world's most important collections, including the Triennale di Milano, the Centre Pompidou, the MAD Musée des Arts Décoratifs located in the Palais du Louvre's western wing and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.

As a student, he started experimenting with the use of plywood. He took part in an exhibition at Fede Cheti with an all-plywood chair with three legs.

In 1949, he founded a workshop named "Forma" for the series production of experimental prototypes.

In 1950–52, he worked in collaboration with Mario Cristiani in Cardiological Clinic Villa Adele in Laveno- Mombello, to design general layout and specific technical furniture: adjustable beds and reclining armchairs for medical applications. - revolving small armchair with fusion metal base and car-industry derived rubber revolving hinge joint. 1958 Armchair P28 (Trecentosessanta) based on circle 1962 Series of dismountable Chairs S81- S82- S83 ) 1969 Revolving bedside Table T128 Revolver 1969 Upholstered Armchair PS 142 Clamis made of two specular twin bodies (Patented July 18 -1972 - US D224285 S )