- Free Delivery To UK Mainland
- All Furniture Is Custom Made Upon Order
- Great Customer Support
Mario Bellini (b. 1935) is an Italian architect and designer whose work spans disciplines with remarkable fluidity. Renowned for his iconic furniture, electronics, and architectural projects, Bellini has shaped the visual and functional language of modern design through a career defined by innovation, elegance, and a deep respect for human interaction.
Born in Milan, Bellini studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano, graduating in 1959. Early in his career, he worked as a consultant for Olivetti, where he developed groundbreaking electronic equipment that blended technology with user-friendly design—a radical concept at the time. His typewriters, calculators, and computers for Olivetti would become touchstones of industrial design.
By the late 1960s, Bellini began working extensively in furniture design, collaborating with brands like Cassina, B&B Italia, Kartell, and Vitra. His architectural practice grew in parallel, encompassing museums, exhibition spaces, office towers, and urban master plans.
Bellini’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that design should be deeply human—sensitive to use, intuitive in form, and timeless in spirit. Whether designing a chair or a skyscraper, he approaches each project with the belief that it must respond to the way people live, move, and feel.
He avoids decorative excess in favor of essential form, often using modularity, soft geometry, and flexible configurations to give users more freedom. His furniture, in particular, explores the relationship between the body and space—inviting comfort while maintaining architectural clarity.
Bellini is also known for crossing boundaries between disciplines. He treats objects as micro-architectures and spaces as objects of design—always seeking unity between scale and experience.
Bellini’s work is housed in major museums around the world, and many of his designs remain in production decades after their debut.
Camaleonda Sofa (1970) – Originally designed for B&B Italia, the Camaleonda is a modular seating system with bold, oversized tufting and moveable backrests. It embodies Bellini’s vision of adaptable, sculptural comfort and has seen a major revival in recent years.
Le Bambole (1972) – A plush, inviting series of armchairs and sofas that blur the line between cushion and structure. Soft yet purposeful, Le Bambole won the Compasso d’Oro and helped define the aesthetic of 1970s Italian design.
Cab Chair (1977) – Designed for Cassina, the Cab is a leather-upholstered chair with a sleek metal skeleton. The skin is zipped over the frame like a tailored garment—an iconic fusion of fashion, structure, and craftsmanship.
Olivetti Divisumma 18 (1973) – A striking orange calculator with rounded edges and rubber keys, this piece challenged the cold sterility of office machines and proved that electronics could be tactile and beautiful.
Mario Bellini is one of the most celebrated figures in Italian design. He has received eight Compasso d’Oro awards, and over 25 of his works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. His architecture includes the Milan Convention Centre, the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre, and many other acclaimed projects.
Bellini’s legacy is one of versatility, rigor, and curiosity. Whether designing a chair or a cultural institution, he approaches every challenge with a poetic sense of purpose—always seeking to elevate the everyday into something extraordinary.
Typically replies within an hour...
We will be back soon!
