Ammannati e Vitelli

A close-knit and complementary couple in work and life, of great cultural depth, as well as professional competence, from the 1950s to the first two decades of the 2000s Titina and Gianpiero were multifaceted creatives and very active in various sectors. They were called upon by companies of the calibre of i4Mariani, Brunati, Misuraemme, Moroso, Rossi di Albizzate, as well as Longhi and Pozzi&Verga, to develop and innovate their catalogues, often introducing new and cutting-edge solutions and not limiting themselves to presenting new projects. In fact, for the companies to which they presented new projects, Titina and Gianpiero were often unknowingly also art directors, when this consultancy role had not yet entered the professional lexicon, so that general advice on production and image strategies were “extra tips”.

Impeccable design and engineering, often with drawings 1:1 by Gianpiero (skills from his artistic background), modularity and adaptability, material and inspirational research rich in international influences, Scandinavian and otherwise, are some of the characteristics of the work of Titina Ammannati and Gianpiero Vitelli.  Qualities that have translated into classics such as the Kilkis armchair, awarded at the IMM in Cologne, the Sandwich upholstered series and the BebiBetta collection, among the forerunners of children's furniture, or the Susy armchair, exhibited at the Triennale...

Many of their projects from the 60s, 70s and 80s which are showcased at the Exhibition are still extremely topical. Among them, some of the architectural and interior design projects signed Ammannati Vitelli: from shop fittings to the design and furnishing of private residences, or exhibition and production facilities, such as the Brunati factory. 

Being tireless in their professional commitments, Titina and Gianpiero have spoken about themselves much more often through their projects, rather than through moments of professional and social self-promotion, even though they loved sharing passions and discoveries with like-minded people: unforgettable they were, their invitations to friends, colleagues and students, such as those on Lake Como, in Villa Troubetzkoy mansion, a splendid example of their ability to enhance existing spaces, as well as create and furnish them.

Two stimulating and enriching people, Titina and Gianpiero. Two passionate and generous professionals, also in friendship and advice, for those who shared with them the work at the Studio, intellectual curiosities or cultural choices, as it clearly appears in the numerous video contributions that complete the expository and descriptive part of the exhibition.

In fact, it will be possible to view (also on YouTube) various video interviews, made by Ivo Balderi.

With architects Chitose Asano and Guido Ferrarese (also former collaborators), as well as architect Marco Della Torre; with Physics professor Giancarlo Baldini and with Economics professor Alberto Sdralevich; with the painter and art historian Vera Segre, the psychologist Giovanna Cantarella, the designer and former collaborator Anna Deplano, the musicians Lina Leddi and Emanuele Segre; with the stylist Colomba Leddi, the painter Sandra Tenconi and the lawyer Marco Janni. 

Interviews with colleagues and long-time friends, naturally, but also with entrepreneurs who appreciated their inventiveness, their ability and their capacity to make a difference, like Gianni Borgonovo, Ferruccio Brunati, Stefano Mariani, Roberto Moroso, Luigi and Piero Rossi. Even with those who have actually “inhabited the space” conceived by Titina and Gianpiero, such as Attilio Rimoldi and Gaia Di Palma, daughter of friends Adriana and Tommaso. 

There will of course be video contributions also from those who strongly wanted and long prepared the due tribute to Gianpiero and Titina: Anna Maske, architect and designer, former collaborator, Elisabetta Vitelli, daughter, musician and designer, together with Porzia Bergamasco, design critic and historian, and Ivo Balderi himself, photographer and director, son of friend Iginio, sculptor.