Afra and Tobia Scarpa facts for kids

Tobia Scarpa
Scarpa in 2015
Born	January 1, 1935 (1935-01) (age 90) Venice, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Designer

Afra and Tobia Scarpa were a famous Italian design team. They won many awards for their amazing work. They designed buildings and everyday items like furniture and clothing. Their designs are so special that you can find them in famous museums. These include the MoMA in New York and the Louvre Museum in Paris.

They worked with big companies like B&B Italia and Knoll International. They also won important awards such as the Compasso d'Oro in 1969. They also received the International Forum Design award in 1992. Afra and Tobia loved to explore new ways to use materials. They also focused on how things looked and worked. Tobia's father, Carlo Scarpa, who was also a designer, greatly inspired them.

Their Lives and Creative Work

Afra Bianchin was born in Montebelluna, Italy, in 1937. Tobia Scarpa was born in Venice, Italy, in 1935. Both of them studied architecture at the Università Iuav di Venezia. They both graduated in 1957.

From 1957 to 1961, Tobia designed glass items for Venini. This was a famous glass company in Murano. In 1960, Afra and Tobia opened their own design office. It was located in Montebelluna. They started designing for companies like Gavina. They created the "Bastiano" sofa in 1961.

They also worked with other well-known companies. For B&B Italia, they designed the "Coronado" sofa in 1966. For Cassina, they made the "Soriana" armchair in 1968. They also designed the "Libert" chair for Meritalia in 1989.

In 1973, they designed the "Papillion" lamp for Flos. This was one of the first lamps to use new halogen technology. Later, they designed lamps for Fabbian and Veas. Their designs always used new technology. They also kept a focus on history, shape, and how things worked.

Afra and Tobia Scarpa received the Compasso d'Oro award in 1969. They also won the International Forum Design award in 1992. Their furniture designs were featured in magazines like L'ŒIL. From 2004 to 2007, they helped restore old buildings. One example is the Palazzo della Ragione in Verona, Italy.

Since 2002, Tobia has taught design at the Università Iuav di Venezia. He believes that design is a job without strict rules. His designs, like "Fantasma" and "Foglio" lamps, show his unique ideas. They also show his great skill.

Working with Benetton

Afra and Tobia Scarpa started working with the Benetton clothing company in 1964. They designed Benetton's first textile factory. After that, they were in charge of all of Benetton's factory designs.

Some of their important projects for Benetton include:

• Designing Benetton shops in 1966.
• Restoring the Villa Minelli in 1972.
• Designing a jeans factory in Cusignana in 1973.
• Creating an automated distribution center in Castrette in 1980.
• Designing Benetton offices in Paris and Freiburg in 1980.
• Building a wool factory in Castrette in 1985.
• Designing the Benetton office in New York in 1986.
• Rebuilding the first factory in Ponzano Veneto in 1987.
• Restoring the Villa Minelli and its area in Ponzano in 1989.
• Designing a clothing factory in Castrette di Villorba in 1993. This factory was doubled in size in 1995.

Working with Molteni

Their work with Molteni, a furniture company, started in 1973. They designed the "Monk" dining chair. Over two decades, Afra and Tobia Scarpa designed many pieces of furniture for Molteni. Not all of these pieces are still made today. However, each one is an important part of Italian design history.

Some of the furniture they designed for Molteni includes:

• Monk chair, 1973
• Morna bed, 1973
• Mop bookcase, 1974
• Mastro chair, 1980
• Meo chair, 1980
• Miss chair, 1986

Awards and Recognition

Afra and Tobia Scarpa received many awards for their designs:

• They won the Compasso d'Oro award in 1970.
• They received a special mention for the same prize in 1979.
• They won the Nerocon Merit Award in 1982.
• They received the Primer Premio Nacional de Diseño Otorgado in 1978.
• They won the Auszeichnung für hohe Designqualität in 1992.
• They also received the International Forum Design Hanover award in 1992.
• Tobia Scarpa won a special career Compasso d'Oro award in 2008.

Museums Featuring Their Work

The designs of Afra and Tobia Scarpa are so important that they are displayed in many museums around the world. Some of these museums include:

• Museum of Modern Art in New York
• National Museum of Design, New York
• Philadelphia Museum of Art
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
• La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art
• Musée du Louvre, Paris
• Staats Museum, Munich
• Österreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst Wein, Vienna
• Victoria and Albert Museum, London
• Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Denmark
• Kunstindustrimuseet, Copenhagen
• Galleri Jerome, Copenhagen
• Galleri Asbaek, Copenhagen
• Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg
• Staatliches Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Munich
• Design-Zentrum, Essen
• Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Cologne)
• Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Companies They Designed For

Afra and Tobia Scarpa worked with many different companies. They created a wide range of products. Some of their clients include:

• Gavina (sofa "Bastiano" 1961)
• B & B Italia (sofa "Coronado" 1966)
• Cassina S.p.A. (armchair "Soriana" 1968)
• Meritalia (chair "Libert" 1989)
• Flos (lamps "Papillona 1977 and "Pierrot" 1990)
• Casas (chair "Veronica" 1991)
• Fabbian (lamps "Saturnina" 1998 and "Galeto" 2001)
• Veas (metal lamp "Scandola")
• Cadel
• Dimensione Fuoco
• Molteni
• Poggi
• San Lorenzo
• Knoll International
• Goppion
• IB Office
• Maxalto
• Stildomus
• Unifor