Francesco Binfaré:

Top Italian Interior Designers

Francesco Binfaré was born in Milan in 1939. He spent the war years with his family in a village in Valtellina, a place that encouraged him to contemplate and observe nature. Thanks to his father, he learned to draw and paint during that period. In 1960, at the age of twenty-one, he met the Cassina brothers, founders of the design and furniture company in Meda bearing their name.

Francesco Binfaré’s encounter enabled him to come into contact with industrial production. Drawing thus became an instrument of disciplinary inquiry into the archetypes of design and architecture. The cycle of graphic works produced between 1967 and 1980 (including Il Gigante e l’ombra or La colpa e l’architettura), prefiguried the central themes of post-modernism.

Binfaré jokingly declared that Cesare Cassina commissioned him to become “the architect of his architects”. Indeed, a characteristic of his role at Cassina was to have worked alongside the creators of innovative objects that would become successful icons of Italian design without aspiring to his personal prominence. His dynamic and creative spirit led him to direct the Cesare Cassina Centre, a design workshop to which he transferred his processes of artistic practice.

There Francesco Binfaré investigated new methods, facilitating individual and collective design. This context gave light to Vico Magistretti’s Maralunga, Gaetano Pesce’s Up 5 and Sit Down Mario Bellini’s Bambole, and Archizoom’s AeO. During this period, he coordinated projects for the historic MoMA exhibition “Italy: New Domestic Landscape” (1972) and carried out research trips to India, the United States, and Japan (1970-1973).

In parallel to his collaboration with Cassina, he promoted personal initiatives. In 1973, Francesco Binfaré founded “Braccio di Ferro” with Gaetano Pesce and Alessandro Mendini for the limited-series production of avant-garde objects.

Investigating the infinite possibilities of new media in design, in 1974, Francesco Binfaré created Environmedia with Mario Bellini and Pierpaolo Saporito. In 1980, he founded Design and Communication Centre to promote such projects as Cab by Mario Bellini, Wink by Toshiyuki Kita, and Sunset in New York by Gaetano Pesce.

Inspired By The Look

Siphon Modular Sofa

Just like the coffee machine, the Siphon Modular Sofa is composed of several modules, capable of creating new design experiences with every possible combination. With a clean design and defined angles, this sofa is the perfect addition to an open space living room or even a hotel lobby. A luxury modular sofa rich in flavor and full of neutral beauty.

In 1992, Massimo Morozzi – an architect and designer among the founders of Archizoom – invited Francesco Binfaré to join Edra’s design team. This collaboration marked the beginning of a new phase in his career. For the Tuscan company, Francesco Binfaré designed L’Homme et la Femme (1993), Tangeri (1994); Angels (1996); On the Rocks (2004); Flap (2006); Sfatto and Tronco (2011); Absolu (2015); Essential (2016); and Standard (2012).

This last piece is an iconic sofa that is always different because of the various ways people experience and sit on this enveloping and comfortable object. Francesco Binfaré’s works are in international museums and collections like MoMA in New York. The Casa Italia residences for Italian athletes participating in the Rio 2016, PeyonChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games included some of his furnishing items. His long career was consecrated in 2022 with a Compasso d’Oro ADI Career Award.

Inspired By The Look

Cassia Modular Sofa

Cassia Modular Sofa is the perfect addition to your modern living room. With a hue of brown inspired by the Cassia cinnamon, this modern modular sofa contains an upholstered back and seating, with symmetric shapes for a chic look. A rearrangeable sofa, that’s both chic and cozy.

What did you think about this article on Francesco Binfaré: Top Italian Interior Designers?

Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest, and get the best luxury interior design ideas!