Superstudio
Encyclopedia
Superstudio was an architecture firm, founded in 1966 in Florence
, Italy
by Adolfo Natalini and Cristiano Toraldo di Francia. Superstudio was one of major part of the Radical
architecture movement of the late 1960s. The founders had gone to school at the University of Florence
with Archizoom
founder Andrea Branzi
and first showed their work in the Superarchitettura
show in 1966.
In 1967, Natalini established three categories of future research: “architecture of the monument”; the “architecture of the image”; and “tecnomorphic architecture”. Soon, Superstudio would be known for its conceptual architecture works, most notably the 1969 Continuous Monument: An Architectural Model for Total Urbanization.
Many of their projects were originally published in the magazine Casabella, and ranged from fiction
, to storyboard
illustration
, to photomontage
.
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…”
Some critics says that Superstudio was influential on architects such as Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Bernard Tschumi.
In 1978, Superstudio abandons working as a collective, but its members continue to develop their ideas independently through their writing teaching, architecture and design projects.
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
by Adolfo Natalini and Cristiano Toraldo di Francia. Superstudio was one of major part of the Radical
Radical period (design)
In Italy, in the second part of the 1960s, the design avant-gardes entered a new period of construction named "Radical".Probably the most notorious result of such avant-garde period is the very famous installation called "Superarchitettura", made in Pistoia in 1966.Within the Italian design...
architecture movement of the late 1960s. The founders had gone to school at the University of Florence
University of Florence
The University of Florence is a higher study institute in Florence, central Italy. One of the largest and oldest universities in the country, it consists of 12 faculties...
with Archizoom
Archizoom
Archizoom Association was a design studio founded in 1966 in Florence, Italy, by four architects: Andrea Branzi, Gilberto Corretti, Paolo Deganello, Massimo Morozzi; and two designers: Dario Bartolini and Lucia Bartolini....
founder Andrea Branzi
Andrea Branzi
Andrea Branzi is an Italian architect and designer.-Biography:Branzi was born in Florence, where he also graduated in architecture. Currently he lives and works in Milan, Italy....
and first showed their work in the Superarchitettura
Superarchitettura
Superarchitettura is a theoretical & conceptual framework, whose physical definition has been given at the homonymous 1966 exhibition, held at Jolly2, an art gallery of Pistoia, Italy....
show in 1966.
In 1967, Natalini established three categories of future research: “architecture of the monument”; the “architecture of the image”; and “tecnomorphic architecture”. Soon, Superstudio would be known for its conceptual architecture works, most notably the 1969 Continuous Monument: An Architectural Model for Total Urbanization.
Many of their projects were originally published in the magazine Casabella, and ranged from fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
, to storyboard
Storyboard
Storyboards are graphic organizers in the form of illustrations or images displayed in sequence for the purpose of pre-visualizing a motion picture, animation, motion graphic or interactive media sequence....
illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
, to photomontage
Photomontage
Photomontage is the process and result of making a composite photograph by cutting and joining a number of other photographs. The composite picture was sometimes photographed so that the final image is converted back into a seamless photographic print. A similar method, although one that does not...
.
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…”
Some critics says that Superstudio was influential on architects such as Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Bernard Tschumi.
In 1978, Superstudio abandons working as a collective, but its members continue to develop their ideas independently through their writing teaching, architecture and design projects.