Italian Living Design

Book excerpt: "Superbly illustrated, this book discusses the interrelationships between culture and design in Italy in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Each decade is introduced with an outline of the popular trends in fashion, cinema, television, and industrial design in the context of Italian politics and society. The author discusses developments in manufacturing and marketing and the effect of economic trends on the design industry. The best of the furniture and design exhibitions and salons of the time are recaptured and their impact on other media is examined. The designs and projects of Franco Albini, Vittorio Gregotti, Gae Aulent, and Ettore Sottsass are among the many that are highlighted. Chairs, lighting, beds, and shelving are displayed in lofts, apartments, and country and suburban houses where conventional decor and cutting-edge furnishings are ingeniously combined. A multitude of products and interiors by the leading Italian designers of the last three decades is documented in beautiful photographs."--