Enzo Mari (27 April 1932– 19 October 2020) was an Italian modernist artist and furniture designer who is known to have influenced many generations of industrial designers. He drew inspiration from the arts and crafts movement. From 1956 onward, he specialized in industrial design and created a portfolio of more than 2,000 works. In the 70’s he designed several famous chairs such as the ‘soft chair’ (with a structure made of steel rod) and the ‘box chair’.
Photo: pamono.com
The Box consists of eight separate components that screw and plug together without tools. When disassembled, the parts can be tucked into a cavity under the seat, hence the name. The lightweight and surprisingly sturdy design is highly practical, as it was easily shipped by its manufacturer, and highly functional, able to be used or stored away.
Photo: vntg.com
Personally, I think the ‘Putrella ‘ is his masterpiece. The Putrella tray was designed by Enzo Mari and manufactured by design studio Danese Milano in 1958. The Putrella trays were produced by using an industrial semi-finished product as raw material to be modified by skilled craftsmanship. It is made of a slightly bent double-T shaped industrial beam in the shape of a tray.
Photo: archiproducts.com
About the Author:
Bruno Dursin – Managing Director at Believe in Steel. Bruno has more than 30 years of experience in promoting steel & steel solutions. His clients benefit from his extensive network within the building industry.
