Carlo Mollino

"Carlo Mollino (1905-1973) was one of the most original and enigmatic exponents of architecture and design in Italy in the 20th century. Scorned by critics, and nonconformist in the extreme, his architecture, furniture and interiors use a vocabulary derived from Futurism Surrealism and a host of architects from Gaudi to Mendelsohn, Aalto to Le Corbusier. The result, however, was always highly individual, and his most important projects - the ski station at Lago Nero in the Alps, the Teatro Regio in Turin or the Ippica, again in Turin - all demonstrate an exceptional imagination. As this book shows, much of this inspiration came from his extraordinary range of interests, which included aeronautics, competitive skiing, set design, stunt flying and eroticism." "With the demolition or irreversible alteration of almost all of his built work, today Mollino is best known for his astonishing furniture. Drawing on rarely seen photographs and documents, and illustrating over eighty interiors alongside items of furniture, this important monograph reconstructs his character with all its flaws and flashes of genius, allowing us to get to the essence of his creative energy. At a time when his legacy is arguably more keenly felt than ever before, in matters of taste as well as of architecture, this book offers the most detailed picture of his achievements yet."--Jacket.