Achille Castiglioni

Achille Castiglioni (1918–2002) studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan, just like his brother Pier Giacomo. After graduating in 1944, he joined his two older brothers, Livio and Pier Giacomo, in their design studio in Milan.

Together, they contributed to Italy’s postwar economic recovery by designing functional and thoughtfully conceived objects. Their design approach was defined by an in-depth study of an object’s function, followed by a simplification of its form to meet those needs in the most effective way. The result is a clean, essential design in which every element serves a precise purpose.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Castiglioni brothers produced numerous projects for renowned Italian brands such as Flos, for which they designed the famous Arco floor lamp, and Zanotta, with the iconic Mezzadro stool made from a tractor seat. Pier Giacomo’s death in 1968 brought their collaboration to an end.

After this loss, Achille Castiglioni continued to work independently, creating pieces such as the Lampadina and the Scrittarello desk. He also dedicated himself to teaching design, first in Turin and later in Milan, passing on his expertise to future generations.