Zanotta, an icon of Italian design, celebrates its fifth Compasso d’Oro victory with a special initiative involving 60 selected retailers, each hosting an exhibition dedicated to the products that have won this prestigious award, presented by ADI – the Association for Industrial Design – over the brand’s 70-year history.
The award-winning pieces include: Guscio (Compasso d’Oro 1967), a pioneering housing unit that combines architectural innovation with ergonomic design. The project stands out for its enveloping form and self-sufficient space concept, a visionary idea for its time, which anticipated modern trends in modular and sustainable architecture. While not part of this exhibition, it remains a symbol of avant-garde design.
The Sciangai coat rack (Compasso d’Oro 1979), designed by De Pas, D’Urbino, and Lomazzi, is an icon inspired by the Mikado game; its wooden rods open like a fan, creating a functional object. Sciangai revolutionised the approach to everyday objects, making them both aesthetic and practical.
The Tonietta chair (Compasso d’Oro 1987) by Enzo Mari is a masterpiece of minimalism and functionality, showing over the years how an ordinary object can become a true work of functional art.
The iconic Sacco armchair (Compasso d’Oro Career Award in 2020), created by Gatti, Paolini, and Teodoro, is one of the most revolutionary and iconic seats in design history. It was the first example of a “free” armchair without a rigid internal structure, adaptable to the body’s shape. Sacco redefined the concept of comfort by introducing a piece of furniture that conforms to the user’s needs, recognized for its cultural impact and its ability to anticipate trends in informal design.
Lastly, the ADI awarded the innovative and sustainable features of the Za:Za sofa (Compasso d’Oro 2024) designed by the Venetian duo Zaven, who introduced a new way of designing sofas by presenting a construction system inspired by the hammock principle that supports and suspends the padded elements while using only recycled and recyclable materials.
Building on the success of the Za:Za sofa, Zanotta presented the Za:Za Max sofa at Milan Design Week 2024, on the occasion of the brand’s 70th Anniversary.
This evolution maintains the previous model’s commitment to environmental sustainability while providing maximum comfort thanks to a deeper seat.
New modular elements have also been introduced—two new components and a pouffe—allowing for different configurations and stimulating creativity in space furnishing.
Established in 1954, the ADI Compasso d’Oro Award is the world’s oldest and most prestigious design prize. Conceived by Gio Ponti, it was organised for years by the La Rinascente department stores to highlight the value and quality of Italian design products, then in its infancy.
It was later donated to ADI, which has been overseeing its organisation since 1958, ensuring its impartiality and integrity.
The Compasso d’Oro is awarded based on a preselection made by ADI’s Permanent Design Observatory, a commission of experts, designers, critics, historians, and journalists who continuously gather information, evaluate, and select the best products, later published in the ADI Design Index yearbooks.
Each showroom will offer visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Zanotta universe through a dedicated exhibition of the products, featuring a special commemorative graphic.
This project is not only a tribute to innovation and craftsmanship but also an immersive experience that tells the story of the evolution of radical Italian design, offering visitors the chance to admire these award-winning creations up close.
The event once again emphasises the central role of research and innovation in Zanotta’s journey, reaffirming the brand as a reference point in the international landscape of radical Italian design.
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