Marco Zanuso
Marco Zanuso studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano (where he later taught), graduating in 1939, then founding his own design studio in 1945. Zanuso became one of the leaders in the Italian Modern Movement and pioneered numerous innovations in furniture design such as a new joining mechanism for a fabric seat to be suspended from a tubular steel frame to his “Lady" armchair featuring the creation of foam-rubber upholstery to his child’s stacking chair which introduced the use of polyethylene to furniture. In 1959, Zanuso began collaborating with famous designer Richard Sapper, creating work devoted to the relationship of the user to the object. In 1993 MoMA held an exhibition featuring 20 of these objects. Zanuso was a major figure in Milan’s urban planning program and spearheaded significant restoration projects of historic buildings including the Teatro Fossati. Zanuso reveived countless awards for his design achievements. Zanuso edited the prestigious design magazines Domus from 1947–1949 (founded by Gio Ponti in 1928) and served as president of the Italian Association of Industrial Design. Zanuso's work can be found in many museum collections including the Met, MoMA and the Triennale. Marco Zanuso chairs and furniture designs remain popular today.