Achille Castiglioni, Villa Olmo, Como, Italy, 1957. (view in google maps)

In 1957, Achille Castiglioni and his brother Per Giacomo Castiglioni designed a living room for an exhibition, “Colori e forme della casa d’oggi” (Colors and shapes of the modern house), that was frequented by numerous famous designers of that time. The Castiglioni brothers did really astonish the community with this interpretation.

On the walls, there is a fresco of Joseph Aymone. The use of space is very particuliar and it was  designed to intrigue. Both serious and humourous, a sink provides water for the plants. Electrical energy is also very important in this design with the presence of the Luminator lamp and the sliding television. This television was designed to be moved vertically, either up or down, and therefore an open space could be dedicated to conversation.

As a matter of fact, the used objects can be traditionnal models such as the sink but also designs that are manufactured in series such as the Luminator and new prototypes  conveived to be functional and respectful to the contemporary life such as the Mezzadro stools, the Sella stools and the Cube chair. For instance, the Sella stool was thought at a time when phone calls were very expensive and phones were stuck on walls. Thus, Achille Castiglioni designed a stool comfortable enough for a few minutes but unconvenient for long sitting periods: a bike seat is linked to a half sphere basis with a metal rod.

This living space  is a proof that traditional elements, industrial products and innovative objects can be mixed and this project led to a new demystified and functional idea of the comfort of a house.