the designed office (desk).
Sold, sorry.
A collectors set designed by the „workshop of modernity“: BBPR’s ‚Spazio‘ desk and sidedesk. Banfi, Belgiojoso, Peressutti and Rogers (BBPR) were graduates of the Milan Polytechnic and are among the most important representatives of Italian rationalism of the 1930s. BBPR is considered one of the first architectural firms to operate fundamentally as a collective, placing joint creative achievement above the emphasis on individual contributions: „Every idea is always our idea“ – a very sixties attitude. Important team projects were, e.g., the Torre Velasca in Milan, the Italian pavilion at EXPO ’58 in Brussels and a whole range of functional furniture designs – such as chairs for Arflex, lamps for Artemide and of course the famous „Spazio“ office furniture series for the Olivetti Synthesis company, winning the 1962 Golden Compass Award (and also part of the reknowned MOMA design collection, New York).
The unique design of the whole ‚Spazio‘ system with detachable legs and adjustable feet shows BBPR’s emphasis on functionality. The modular usage possibilities were ideally suited for the then new large open space offices. From this modular Spazio series we have a desk, once belonging to the „Camera di Commercio, Pisa“ (Chamber of Commerce, Pisa). Metal feet and panels, chest of three drawers, top in original red-brown ‚pelle finta‘ (faux leather), edges and corners reinforced with Duroplast. Matching the desk is a small enameled metal side table with three drawers and one door, often used for typewriters.
Both pieces stamped: Olivetti Arredamenti Metallici ‚Spazio‘; metal inventory numbers on desk: ‚Camera di Commercio, Pisa 1331‘ and ‚231‘
Wear consistent with age and use, metal has patina, restoration recommended. Top of the sidedesk originally covered with olive-green fabric (worn-out and removed).
Desk: h 75,47, w: 129,54, d: 81,28 cm
Sidedesk: h 59,5, w: 79 cm, d 54,2 cm
About Olivetti: https://www.md-mag.com/news/meinung/olivetti/
About BBPR: https://www.ordinearchitetti.mi.it/en/mappe/itinerario/28-the-bbpr-studio-and-milan/saggio
