Achille Castiglioni was born in Milan in 1918 and since 1940 he has been experimenting industrial products with his brothers Livio (1911-1979) and Pier Giacomo (1913-1968). After graduating in architecture in 1944, he began to looking into forms and techniques and new materials, conceiving a complete design process. He was one of the founders of ADI in 1956. He achieved in 1969 the teaching qualification on "Artistic Design for Industry" and he also taught at Università di Architettura di Torino until 1980 and also he taught as lecturer in Politecnico di Milano until 1993 as fulltime "Industrial Design' professor. Since 1950 he has been working about exhibitions and mountings(Triennale di Milano, Montecatini, Agip, Rai). Fourteen of his works are exhibited at the MoMA in New York. Other works are in museums: Victoria and Albert Museum (London), Kunstgewerbe Museum (Zurich), Staatliches Museum fur Angewandte Kunst (Munich), Design Museum (Prato), Uneleckoprumyslove Prague Museum (Prague), Israel Museum (Jerusalem), The Denver Art Museum, Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein), Angewandte Kunst Museum (Hamburg and Cologne). From 1984 to1986 he organized a personal exhibition about his work by the Museum fur Angewandte Kunst (Vienna), then at the Akademie der Kunst (Berlin), the Triennale di Milsno (Milan), the Kunstgewerbe Museum (Zurich), the Haags Gemeentemuseum (The Hague), the Circulo de Bellas Artes (Madrid) and the Center Georges Pompidou (Paris). He was awarded nine Compasso D'oro. Achille Castiglioni died in 2002.

Pier Giacomo Castiglioni

Pier Giacomo Castiglioni was born in Milan in 1913. He founded the "Architecture, Urban Buildings and Research in Industrial Design" studio in 1937 with his brother Livio. Subsequently, in 1952 Livio left the studio, which Achille had joined in 1944. He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in Milan in 1937. Subsequently Professor and Assistant of Architectural Design and Professor of Design and Public Works at the Faculty of Architecture of Milan. Member of the Council of the Architects Association and of the Building Commission. After that he exhibited at every Milan Triennale from 1940 onwards, winning various prizes. On the occasion of the 13th Triennale in 1964, dedicated to the theme "Free time, lifetime" Pier Giacomo Castiglioni was a member of the Executive Committee. During his career he was part of various juries: in 1956, 1957 and 1958 for “La Rinascente Compasso d'Oro”; the Milan Triennale; Formica-Domus competition; Abitare-De Padova competition; International Cantù Furniture competition. His works have been presented and are currently exhibited at: Museum of Modern Art (New York), Royal Institute of British Architects (London), Musée des Arts Decoratifs (Paris), Palais du Centenaire (Brussels), Modern Art Museum (Sao Paulo – Brazil).

Flos

Since 1962, Flos with its beautiful collections of lamps and chandeliers has established itself among the leaders in the lighting industry. It brings with it a story 100% Made in Italy, fruit of passion and trust, expansion and experimentation. The name "Flos", which in Latin means "flower", has as its origin a luminous thought. The idea of giving birth to objects suitable to change the way of living, both indoor and outdoor.
Specialized in the production of lights and lighting systems design, the Italian company has signed icons such as the floor lamp Arco, the suspension lamps Parentesi and Taraxacum (on the cover) by Achille Castiglioni, the famous lamp Taccia, the Aim, the Toio, unmistakably elegant collections such as the String Light and other ultra-contemporary solutions, collaborating with the most famous designers and architects of the national scene including, Philippe Starck and Antonio Citterio are respectively the fathers of the D'E-light table lamp and the Kelvin LED desk lamp.