Scuptural cabinet “CRISTALLO” by Alessandro Medini MDF lacquered red blue green

Mendini was a radical designer who influenced architecture and design in Italy and on a global scale, bringing colour and exciting forms into buildings such as the Groninger Museum in The Netherlands and the iconic Proust armchair, which blended a baroque form with multicoloured hand-painted pointillist dots. BD was inspired by his concept of the “neoartesanado postindustrial” (new post-industrial crafted art) and worked alongside him in the 80s. His last design, the Cristallo, was for BD.

The freestanding piece has a veneered sycamore wood finish in its interior, fitted with shelving in its compartments. The exterior has a glossy finish and is multicoloured, with a graphic print of a white trophy forming the facade of the piece. The form stretches from its sturdy base into two outstretched arms, rising like a trophy.
Alessandro Mendini is a unique person characterised for his great generosity amongst many of his other qualities. He was the one that defined the concept of “neoartesanado postindustrial” (new post industrial crafted art) much like what we do at BD, ever since the business started in 1972.

He was the one that defined the concept of “neoartesanado postindustrial” (new post industrial crafted art) much like what we do at BD, ever since the business started in 1972. In the 80’s he designed rugs for us, and he brought exhibitions such as the “Zabro, other furniture and objects of the Nuova Alchimia Collection” in (1986) to our showroom in Barcelona. He has always accompanied us and we in turn have always followed his advice, not losing our identity, to be indifferent to trends and to look for beauty. We wanted to give a new thank you, requesting a new piece for our Art Editions Collection. Alessandro projected it with the same excitement that he had earlier on. A singular piece, made from a concept he called Tarsia Urbana (in Italian it’s translated urban marquetry), a limited edition and manufactured with care. For us it was a celebration. He decorated it with a large cup and named it “Cristallo”. History has wanted it to be Mendini’s last design done throughout his long and rich professional career. A big hand to Mendini.