CINI BOERI
1924 - 2020
“The best of the design is the one you do not notice. The one that endures, persists over time.”
Cini Boeri seated in her Ghost armchair, 2006. Photo via the New York Times
Serpentone sofa designed by Cini Boeri in 1971. Photo via Arflex Archive History
Cini Boeri, born in Milan, Italy in 1924, was a prolific architect and designer whose work is celebrated for its elegance, functionality, and exploration of materials. Boeri had a remarkable impact on post-war Italian design, influencing generations with her human-centric approach.
Boeri's designs, whether architecture or furniture, were grounded in a philosophy of flexibility and adaptability to the human form. She strongly believed in design as a means to enhance human well-being. Her furniture pieces often feature modular designs and are intended to be adaptable to different uses and spaces.
Perhaps one of Boeri's most renowned pieces is the Serpentone Sofa, designed for Arflex in 1971. This innovative modular seating system is made of foam and could be arranged in various configurations to suit the needs of the user. Its flexibility, comfort, and bold, continuous form embody Boeri's human-centric design principles.
Another iconic design is her Ghost Chair, created in 1987. Made from a single sheet of glass, this monolithic piece seems to float in space, reflecting Boeri's interest in exploring the properties of materials and pushing the boundaries of manufacturing techniques.
In addition to her furniture designs, Boeri made significant contributions to architecture, where her designs reflected a similar philosophy of flexibility, adaptability, and human well-being. She believed in "psychic interior design," an approach where spaces are designed to resonate with the emotional and psychological needs of the inhabitants.
Boeri's designs are characterized by clean lines, elegance, and a minimalist aesthetic. Still, they are always infused with warmth and a deep understanding of human needs. Despite the simplicity of her designs, there's always an underlying complexity in how they're engineered and how they relate to space and the human body.
Over her career, Cini Boeri received numerous awards, including the Compasso d'Oro, and her work is held in the collections of many prestigious museums around the world, such as the MoMA in New York and the Triennale Museum in Milan. She continued to design into her 90s, embodying a relentless passion for improving human life through design.
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