Anna Castelli Ferrieri

Anna Castelli Ferrieri: the 1950s women’s revolution in a predominantly male sector. Anna Castelli Ferrieri (1918–2006) was an Italian architect, urban planner and designer. Born in Milan, she studied architecture at the Polytechnic University in her hometown, a institution whose alumni include some of the most renowned figures in design. She became one of the first women to graduate from the Politecnico. Working in a predominantly male-dominated sector at a time when sexism was rife, she used her influential voice to create opportunities for more women in architecture and design. In 1983, she organised an exhibition on the history of women’s emancipation from the 18th century to the present day.

‘It is wrong to say that what is useful is beautiful. It is what is beautiful that is useful. Beauty can improve people’s way of life and way of thinking.’

She used plastic as her raw material, enabling her to design objects in series that were accessible to everyone. The idea of stacking and storage was Anna Castelli Ferrieri’s main focus. This also enabled her to mould the plastic directly, sparing workers the task of assembling each piece and saving time in production.

The Italian artist revolutionised this very male-dominated world in the 1950s by co-founding, with her husband, the contemporary furniture company Kartell, for which she went on to create iconic pieces. One of her flagship designs has just celebrated its 50th anniversary: the Componibili storage collection. A timeless design, it is available in a square version, but it is the round style that has made it so iconic. Based on a simple, vertical stacking system, Componibili units are flexible, functional and practical, and blend seamlessly into most rooms in the home, whether used as living room furniture or as a bedside table. The storage range is now available in a more environmentally friendly version.