Michele De Lucchi: Passion, A Drawing, and A House

(jiří macek) From February 5, Ingo Maurer’s showroom and headquarters in Munich presents wooden models of experimental architectural designs by phenomenal architect and designer Michele De Lucchi. These are simple pieces of wood, yet they represent so many worlds.

Models made from wooden blocks, which de Lucchi processed with a chainsaw, were created independent of assignments, clients, and money. De Lucchi made them for himself because he simply felt the need. He transferred the lightness and quietness of the drawing to the rough sculpturesque structures which are, however, impressive not because of all their radical qualities, but because of their tender poetics. As if they were still on paper, their effects are random but never mechanical.

“These are not necessarily houses to be built; they were not made to add houses to houses,” says Michele De Lucchi. “I am still wondering why I do these wood houses and why they look so nice so small and twisted, whereas they would be so ugly built on a real scale, all straight and perfect, with their gutters and sealed windows, their shutters and balconies and switches to turn on the lights.”

The designer of the iconic Tolomeo light for Artemide, whose portfolio includes, apart from architectural projects and concepts, designs for Alias, Unifor, and Poltrona Frau, has focused on conceptual models for several years. These models seem to serve as a basis for dozens of hovering delicate and emotionally powerful projects in the field of architecture and design by Michele De Lucchi (b.1951). As one of the active members of the avant-garde designer groups of Alchymia and Memphis, he still ranks among the inspiring figures of contemporary design.

Visitors can see the exhibition at Keisserstrasse in Munich until March 20. The exhibition is the first fruit of exhibition activities of Ingo Maurer´s new studio. Maurer has always pioneered new ideas, miracles, and unexpected approaches. If you have seen his presentations in Milan, you know what you can look forward to.

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