The origins of the studio
The studio grew out of Bruno Gecchelin’s fifteen years at Olivetti’s Milan office, led by Ettore Sottsass Jr., followed by two years as an external consultant. This experience shaped the independent, pioneering outlook that continues to define the studio’s approach to design.
“A young man, perhaps little more than a smiling boy, walked into the Olivetti design studio I was running at the time [...].
His name was Bruno Gecchelin. He stayed on at the studio for many years, I can’t remember how many, studying architecture in the meantime and earning his degree as an architect, learning to be a designer [...].
He helped me on many occasions and, at a certain point, began devoting his spare time to designing lamps and chandeliers, with a focus, technical grounding, technological knowledge, inventiveness and intensity that soon brought him success as well.”
A continuing design journey
Before working with Olivetti, Bruno Gecchelin had already gained significant experience across several product categories. His projects include furniture for the home and office for Busnelli Export, children’s furniture with Alberto Bazzani, and gas cookers and compact refrigerators for Indesit.
His consultancy for Fiat further broadened his work, leading to the design of a compact bathroom unit for Doima converted vans and the development of special fittings for the Panda.
“Through continuous technological exploration, Gecchelin has engaged with a wide variety of materials, from metal to composites, ceramics, Murano glass and marble, on more than one occasion also creating objects that evoke a poetic response.”
Lorenzo Gecchelin joined the studio in 1997, after graduating in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano and gaining a year’s professional experience abroad. He is responsible for the digital aspects of the studio’s projects and now oversees the entire product development cycle. He also works on interior design, refurbishment projects and art direction. He teaches at Accademia del Lusso and Raffles Milano, having previously taught at the Istituto Europeo di Design and the Politecnico di Milano.