Free System

Claudio Salocchi (Milan, 1934 – 2012) was an Italian architect and designer. He was a protagonist of the creative ferment of the 60s and 70s who knew how to interpret the transformations of that period into projects that anticipated forms, functionalities, technologies and new typologies that became trends many years later. In his long career he was internationally involved for more than fifty years in the fields of industrial design, architecture and interior design. From 1967 he was a member of ADI, the Association for Industrial Design, of which he was vice president from the 80s until the beginning of the 90s. He was an independent and unclassifiable figure: as a designer, his works are related to the exclusive collaboration with some companies born at that time that rapidly stood out for their unique products, giving to the history of Italian Design an important contribution. He researched and was interested in prefabrication, creativity, and design matters, and with the group “Ricerche Non Finalizzate” – he took part in the expositions at the Triennale di Milano in 1968 and 1973. As for architecture, his work found its best expression in the refurbishing of preexisting buildings, transformed in a functional and modern way. These renovations produced a new dialogue between the landscape and lands of the soul, often with the magic touch of contemporary art. For his research into the synthesis of form and function, he received the Compasso d’Oro award in 1979 for Metrosistema, kitchen equipment for homes and communities, along with two special mentions for two other projects. A third mention was received in 1987, at the 14th edition of the award.