The first comprehensive survey of modern design from the transnational and multilingual Alpine region TyrolSouth TyrolTrentino

Over centuries, the transnational Alpine region TyrolAlto Adige / South TyrolTrentino has developed along ancient trade routes between Germany and Austria on one and northern Italy on the other side of the Alps. Similar to the region's modern and contemporary architecture, its product design is in many cases rooted in a rich local tradition of craftsmanship. Yet since the 1920s, this multilingual region has also proven its remarkable openness to European modernism's most progressive movements and become an unexpected laboratory for technical and formal exploration in the middle of the continent.

Design from the Alps, published to coincide with an exhibition at museum Kunst Meran in autumn 2019, tells the story of a century of product design from TyrolSouth TyrolTrentino, highlighting the vast variety of discoveries and innovations that have emerged there. Featured artists include, among others, Fortunato Depero (18921960), whose experiments were inspired by the Secondo Futurismo, Gino Pollini (190391), a pioneer of the interwar period, as well as the celebrated architects and designers Lois Welzenbacher (18891955), Clemens Holzmeister (18861983), and Ettore Sottsas (19172007). Lavishly illustrated, the book follows the many protagonists of this at the same time heterogenous and collectively strong scene and offers an insightful tour d'horizon of the manifaceted design culture of western Austria and northern Italy.

The book presents a decisive overview of the diverse product design of the last 100 years in a very special region and thus closes a gap in design history Dr. Wolfgang Hornik, Sammler Journal

This richly illustrated book traces the numerous players in this heterogeneous and yet collectively strong scene and allows to immerse in the diverse world of northern Italian design. Gerrit Menke, Cube

The contributions provide basic information about the protagonists' biographies and attitudes. They invite the reader to deal with them in greater depth after reading. The book is light but very inspiring. If you're looking for something beautiful, especially in dark times like these, it's highly recommended. Elias Baumgarten, Swiss Architects

As you leaf through this book, you will indeed be astonished at what there is to discover in this region the designs and products that have come to light, the sheer number of outstanding designers that have come from this part of the world, the innovative designs that have been created here over the last 100 years, and the entrepreneurial success stories that have been written here. Thomas Wagner, ndion

A splendid illustrated book traces Alpine product designers from 1920 to the present day - and in doing so shows the connections between discipline and playfulness. Mario Vigl, ALPS Magazine

Scheidegger & Spiess has published a magnificent accompanying volume, which for the first time brings together the most important designers and products of the region in one book. Jan Baedeker, Classic Driver

This richly illustrated book traces the numerous players in this heterogeneous yet collectively strong scene and brings long-forgotten things to light. md Interior | Design | Architecture

A tous ces titres, l'ouvrage se révèle être une extraordinaire mine inépuisable de connaissances et d'inspiration puisées à la source même de ce design propre au Trentino, ce carrefour culturel des plus dynamiques au cur même de l'Europe. Lexnews

Autorentext
Claudio Larcher ist Architekt und Partner des Designbüros Modoloco. Er leitet den Bachelorlehrgang Design an der Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Mailand. Massimo Martignoni ist Kunsthistoriker und Autor zahlreicher Publikationen über Architektur und Design. Er ist Professor für Designgeschichte an der Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti in Mailand. Ursula Schnitzer ist Kunsthistorikerin und Projektkoordinatorin bei Kunst Meran.

Klappentext

Die Alpenregion Tirol - Südtirol - Trentino hat sich über die Jahrhunderte als Kulturraum am Kreuzungspunkt zwischen München und Venedig einerseits und Wien und Mailand andererseits entwickelt. Design from the Alps erzählt das faszinierende Abenteuer der Produktgestaltung in dieser Region, die sich erstaunlich offen und aufnahmefähig für die fortschrittlichsten Strömungen der Moderne zeigte. Sie wurde dadurch zu einem unerwarteten Labor für technisch-formale Erkundungen im Herzen Europas. Das weite Spektrum an Entdeckungen und Innovationen bildet sich im Buch ab. Es reicht von den Experimenten eines Fortunato Depero im Secondo Futurismo über Pioniere wie Gino Pollini in der Zwischenkriegszeit und berühmte Designer wie Lois Welzenbacher, Clemens Holzmeister und Ettore Sottsass bis in die unmittelbare Gegenwart. Das reich illustrierte Buch spürt den zahlreichen Akteuren dieser heterogenen und doch kollektiv starken Szene nach und lässt einen eintauchen in die vielfältige Welt des norditalienischen Designs.