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Ettore Sottsass

Ettore Sottsass Biography

Architect

Italian architect and designer, renowned for his influence on modern design in the second half of the 20th century. Sottsass is known for his unique style and his fusion of function and aesthetics, with his work including furniture, architecture, and product design.

Italian architect and designer, renowned for his influence on modern design in the second half of the 20th century. Sottsass is known for his unique style and his fusion of function and aesthetics, with his work including furniture, architecture, and product design.

Related Quotes

“Be patient, calm, compassionate. Know that existence is fleeting.”

Knows Existence Patient Calm Compassionate Fleeting Be Patient

Author:Ettore Sottsass

“I try and be as stupid as possible regarding my profession, which means I try to look at as few design magazines as possible.”

Trying Looks Mean Stupid Design Profession Magazines

Author:Ettore Sottsass

“A chair must be really important as an object, because my mother always told me to offer my chair to a lady”

Important Mother Objects Offers Chairs

Author:Ettore Sottsass

“When I began designing machines I also began to think that these objects, which sit next to each other and around people, can influence not only physical conditions but also emotions. They can touch the nerves, the blood, the muscles, the eyes and the moods of people.”

People Thinking Eye Next Emotion Blood Influence Conditions Design Objects Machines Mood Muscles Nerves Interior Design

Book:Ettore Sottsass: A Critical Biography

Source: Ettore Sottsass: A Critical Biography

“When I was young, all we ever heard about was functionalism, functionalism, functionalism. It’s not enough. Design should also be sensual and exciting.”

Should Enough Young Heard Design Exciting Sensual

Author:Ettore Sottsass

“I make no special difference between architecture and design, they are two different stages of invention.”

Two Different Differences Special Stage Design Architecture Invention Interior Design Architecture And Design

Book:Ettore Sottsass: A Critical Biography

Source: Ettore Sottsass: A Critical Biography

“My furniture is an exercise in architecture or architectural mood.”

Design Exercise Architecture Mood Furniture Interior Design

Book:Ettore Sottsass: A Critical Biography

Source: Ettore Sottsass: A Critical Biography

“It is important to realize that whatever we do or design has iconographic references, it comes from somewhere; any form is always metaphorical, never totally metaphysical; it is never a 'destiny' but always a fact with some kind of historical reference. To put an object on a base means to monumentalize it, to make everyone aware it exists.”

Kind Mean Important Facts Form Realizing Destiny Design Objects Historical Metaphysical Interior Design Metaphorical

Book:Ettore Sottsass: A Critical Biography

Source: Ettore Sottsass: A Critical Biography

“...there is no doubt something will be done sooner or later to enable us to put on a house every day, just as we put on clothes or choose a book to read or a theater to go to, like choosing a day to be lived, within the limits grated by other destinies or chances.”

Book Done House Chance Destiny Doubt Design Limits Clothes Theater No Doubt Sooner Or Later Interior Design

Author:Ettore Sottsass

“Decoration can be a state of mind, an unusual perception, a ritual whisper.”

Mind States Design Perception Ritual State Of Mind Unusual Interior Design Decoration

Book:Design metaphors

Source: Design metaphors

“If you think you're meeting your destiny on the other side of a door you may not be interested in its design.”

Ifs Thinking May Sides Destiny Doors Design Meetings Our Destiny Your Destiny Interior Design

Book:Design metaphors

Source: Design metaphors

About the Author

Born: September 14, 1917
Died: December 31, 2007
Known for: Architect
Quotes: 11

Related Topics

Design Interior Design Destiny Objects Architecture Important Mean Mood Thinking Architecture And Design

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Ettore Sottsass: A Critical BiographyRelated source material

Design metaphorsRelated source material

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