Molteni Mondo: An Italian Design Story

A wide, cinematic view of the seminal Italian design company Molteni&C, telling the stories behind the collaborations with its many designer protagonists.

Through the creative direction of Beda Achermann, who gives the project an almost cinematographic vision thanks in large part to striking photographs by Jeff Burton, the book provides an inside look into the long and rich history of Molteni&C, its highly technical production processes, its expertly crafted designs, and its enduring legacy, from 1934 to the present. This is an unprecedented perspective on the visionary family-run company and its designers across generations who together--through a mutual obsession with detail, craftsmanship, and quality--continue to build upon this remarkable world of category-defining designs.

The editorial structure includes a series of thematic chapters or ＂scenes＂ exploring the entrepreneurial history of the family business, the headquarters in Brianza and museum designed by Ron Gilad, the production processes, and Molteni’s key role in the world of design. At the heart of the project are the designers who have helped make the brand a beacon, including Vincent Van Duysen, Ron Gilad, Jacques Herzog, Jasper Morrison, Jean Nouvel, Tobia Scarpa, and Patricia Urquiola.

A special insert focuses on the company’s Gio Ponti collection, established in 2012 in collaboration with the Ponti Archive.

Editor Spencer Bailey has involved a stable of international contributors, including Jean Nouvel, who wrote the foreword, and the curator Maria Cristina Didero.

Spencer Bailey is a New York-based writer and journalist. He is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the media companyThe Slowdown and host of the Time Sensitive podcast. Jeff Burton is a Los Angeles-based artist whose photography has been exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Barbican Centre in London. Beda Achermann is a Zurich-based creative director and the founder of Studio Achermann.