Superstudio
- Introduction
- Superstudio was an architectural firm, founded in 1966 in Florence, Italy by Adolfo Natalini and Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, later joined by Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro and Roberto Magris, Alessandro Poli.Superstudio was a major part of the Radical architecture and design movement of the late 1960s. The founders had gone to school at the University of Florence with Archizoom Associati founder Andrea Branzi and first showed their work in the Superarchitettura show in 1966. This exhibition became the manifesto of the Radical Design movement.In 1967, Natalini established three categories of future research: “architecture of the monument”, “architecture of the image”, and “technomorphic architecture”. In 1969, Superstudio presented one of their most famous conceptual architecture works – Continuous Monument: An Architectural Model for Total Urbanization. Their anti-architectural proposals used grid systems as a way to mediate space. Continuous Monument represented a critique of the urban planning at that time.Superstudio aimed for social change through architecture. In the early 1970s, they created a series of films in order to raise awareness of the harmful impact of construction on natural environment.Adolfo Natalini wrote in 1971 “...if design is merely an inducement to consume, then we must reject design; if architecture is merely the codifying of bourgeois model of ownership and society, then we must reject architecture; if architecture and town planning is merely the formalization of present unjust social divisions, then we must reject town planning and its cities...until all design activities are aimed towards meeting primary needs. Until then, design must disappear. We can live without architecture..." Through their models, Superstudio proposed an alternative strategy of life without objects, a view of architectural practice as essentially theoretical, with a primary focus on cultural criticism.In 1970, they created their iconic minimalist furniture collection – Quaderna, which is still in production by Zanotta. Their other famous projects include: "Sofo Sofa" (1968) (still in production), "Sofa Bazaar" (1968), Passiflora Table Lamp (1966), Polaris Excelsior table lamp (1968).Superstudio took part in the MoMA exhibition "Italy: The New Domestic Landscape" (1972).Critics agree that the work of Superstudio was influential, or even entirely inspirational to, among others, architects like Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas and Bernard Tschumi. Evidence of this is notable when one considers that the use of strong symmetrical line-work and geometric form; mediums heavily utilized by all of these architects, were staples of Superstudio's work throughout most of its life. Furthermore, Superstudio's penchant for envisioning immense, entirely aspirational mega-structures is a trait visible in much of the early work of architects such as Hadid and Koolhaas.Superstudio abandoned working as a collective in 1978, but its members continued to develop their ideas independently through their writings, via education, architectural practice and other design projects.
- Wikidata
- Q617456
- Ulan
- 500115953
Exhibitions
-
417: Architecture Systems
Ongoing
MoMA
Collection gallery
-
From the Collection:
1960–1969 Mar 26, 2016–Mar 19, 2017
MoMA
-
Cut ’n’ Paste: From Architectural Assemblage to Collage City
Jul 10, 2013–Jan 5, 2014
MoMA
-
9 + 1 Ways of Being Political: 50 Years of Political Stances in Architecture and Urban Design
Sep 12, 2012–Jun 9, 2013
MoMA
-
In Situ: Architecture and Landscape
Apr 8, 2009–Feb 22, 2010
MoMA
-
Superstudio has
16 exhibitionsonline.
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia Gherpe Lamp 1967
-
Superstudio, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini The Continuous Monument: On the River, project (Perspective) 1969
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia The Continuous Monument: St. Moritz Revisited, project (Perspective) 1969
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Adolfo Natalini The Continuous Monument: On the Rocky Coast, project (Perspective) 1969
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini The Continuous Monument: Alpine Lakes, project (Perspective) 1969
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Adolfo Natalini The Continuous Monument: New York Extrusion Project, New York, New York (Aerial perspective) 1969
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Alessandro Poli The Continuous Monument: New York, project 1969
-
Superstudio, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Adolfo Natalini The First City, from the Twelve Ideal Cities, project, Aerial perspective 1971
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Alessandro Poli Supersurface, The Happy Island, project 1971
-
Superstudio, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini Console Bench 1970–1971
-
Superstudio, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini Console Table 1970–1971
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Alessandro Poli Fundamental Acts: Education 1971–1973
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Alessandro Poli Fundamental Acts: Love 1971-1973
-
Superstudio, Gian Piero Frassinelli, Alessandro Magris, Roberto Magris, Adolfo Natalini, Cristiano Toraldo di Francia, Alessandro Poli Fundamental Acts: Death 1971-1973
If you would like to reproduce an image of a work of art in MoMA’s collection, or an image of a MoMA publication or archival material (including installation views, checklists, and press releases), please contact Art Resource (publication in North America) or Scala Archives (publication in all other geographic locations).
All requests to license audio or video footage produced by MoMA should be addressed to Scala Archives at [email protected]. Motion picture film stills or motion picture footage from films in MoMA’s Film Collection cannot be licensed by MoMA/Scala. For licensing motion picture film footage it is advised to apply directly to the copyright holders. For access to motion picture film stills please contact the Film Study Center. More information is also available about the film collection and the Circulating Film and Video Library.
If you would like to reproduce text from a MoMA publication, please email [email protected]. If you would like to publish text from MoMA’s archival materials, please fill out this permission form and send to [email protected].
This record is a work in progress. If you have additional information or spotted an error, please send feedback to [email protected].