When discussing Italian architect Giovanni Michelucci, it is difficult to decide which is the more impressive achievement: his more than half-century track record of notable projects, which includes designing and restoring some of Tuscany’s most famous landmarks, or his nearly century-long life. While he is often remembered for passing away just two days before his centennial birthday, in the same breath he is memorialized for his exceptional contributions to Tuscan architecture, including Florence’s Santa Maria Novella Train Station, Palazzo delle Poste and restored rooms inside the legendary Uffizi Gallery.
Michelucci’s practice began in childhood, at his family’s artistic metal workshop. There, he rubbed elbows with many passing artists and architects before pursuing design academically at Florence’s Istituto Superiore di Architettura. Michelucci graduated in 1911 and embarked on a long teaching career. By the early 1920s, he was instructing at the Istituto d’Arte of Rome and later at the Istituto Superiore di Architettura, from 1928 until 1936. He served as dean of the school’s architectural faculty twice during the 1940s and founded the magazine La Nuova Città between the two appointments. He left Florence in 1948 to become a professor at the School of Engineering in Bologna, where he remained until his retirement.
Other significant architectural projects dot Michelucci ‘s career, like the Santa Maria Novella church and church of St. John the Baptist. Often working in collaboration with the Grouppo Tuscano, a collective of young architects, Michelucci beat out more than 100 other bidders on multiple contracts to bring his modernist, rationalist approach to Italy’s architectural landscape.
In his hometown of Pistoia, as well as Fiesole, Michelucci formed the Fondazione Giovanni Michelucci, which undertook social projects targeted at prisons, hospitals and asylums within the cities. He dedicated the rest of his life toward using architecture to address social challenges — a cause the foundation continues to support today.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Giovanni Michelucci lighting, case pieces and tables.
Italian Post-Modern Set of Six Dining Chairs in Wood and Rush
By Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of six dining chairs, beech, rush, Italy, 1970s Elegant set of Italian dining chairs dating from the 1970s, crafted in warm beech wood with handwoven rush seats. The clean archi...
Rush, Beech
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chair for Poltronova, 1964
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, Italy, 1964. Crafted from dark-stained beechwood with woven straw seats, the "Torbecchia" dining chairs for Poltronova...
Straw, Wood
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 6
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” dining chairs for Poltronova, Italy, 1964, set of six. Crafted from dark-stained beechwood with woven straw seats, the "Torbecchia" dining chairs fo...
Straw, Wood
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 2
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, Italy, 1964, set of two. Crafted from dark-stained beechwood with woven straw seats, the "Torbecchia" dining chairs fo...
Straw, Wood
$2,500 / set
H 43.75 in W 19.25 in D 20.63 in
Set of 4 Post Modern 1970s Italian Chrome & Wood Dining Chairs - DIA Style
By Milo Baughman, Design Institute America
Located in St. Louis, MO
Classic Post Modern Italian design, set of four hi-back chrome frame dining chairs, with concentric designed oak seats. Unknown designer, often attributed to DIA or Design Insutute o...
Chrome
$3,000 / set
H 33 in W 20.75 in D 18.5 in
Set of Six Post Modern Lugano Dining Chairs by Pace Need to be Reupholstered
By Pace Collection
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional set of six post modern chrome base dining chairs by Pace (The Pace Collection Lugano Chair) circa 1970's. The chairs feature a thick chrome...
Chrome
Post Modern Italian Lacquered Set of Four Dining Chairs
By Saporiti
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Set of 4 Postmodern lacquered white dining room chairs. Marked made in Italy, in the style of Saporiti. Minor blemishes to the lacquer is at a...
Naugahyde, Hardwood
$5,800 / set
H 33.5 in W 18 in D 18.5 in
Set of 8 Italian Post Modern White Leather Dining Chairs by Cattelan Italia
By Cattelan Italia
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Glamorous and sleek vintage white leather upholstered dining chairs by Cattelan Italy. Comfortable with nicely stitched leather. The chairs are beautifully designed and made from qua...
Chrome
$7,467 / set
H 37.41 in W 18.12 in D 17.33 in
Set of Six Victor Courtray Attributed Dining Chairs in Oak and Rush, 1950s
By Victor Courtray
Located in The Hague, NL
This striking set of six dining chairs was produced in the Northern Basque region around the city of Biarritz in the 1950s. The design is attributed to Victor Courtray. The chairs a...
Rush, Oak
$9,101 / set
H 32.29 in W 17.33 in D 18.12 in
Set of Six Victor Courtray Dining Chairs in Oak and Rush, France, 1940s
By Victor Courtray
Located in The Hague, NL
This striking set of six dining chairs was designed by Victor Courtray and produced in the Northern Basque region around the city of Biarritz in the 1940s. The chairs are in solid,...
Straw, Rush, Oak
Charles Dudouyt Set of Six (6) Rush and Walnut Dining Chairs
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in North Miami, FL
Vintage Walnut and rush seat dining chairs by Charles Dudouyt, France 1940s. Dudouyt crafted wooden furniture in strong Art Deco/ brutalist forms, using playful geometries and const...
Rush, Walnut
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Solid Walnut Bench, 1960s
By Giovanni Michelucci, Poltronova
Located in Dronten, NL
A sculptural and profoundly architectural piece, this “Torbecchia” bench by Giovanni Michelucci exemplifies the masterful balance between craftsmanship and modernist form that define...
Walnut
Set of 4 dining chairs
By Aksel Bender Madsen
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Set of 4 dining chairs by Danish designer Aksel Bender Madsen for Bovenkamp (Netherlands), 60ties. In a good condition. Recently reupholstered. Fabric:...
Fabric, Wood
$4,950
H 36.62 in W 25.99 in D 28.35 in
Pair of Giovanni Michelucci Armchairs in Blue Velvet, Italy, 1940s
By Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Almelo, NL
Pair of Giovanni Michelucci Armchairs in Blue Velvet, Italy, 1940s A striking pair of architectural armchairs designed by Italian architect Giovanni Michelucci in the 1940s. These r...
Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
$4,320 / set
H 34.26 in W 20.48 in D 17.33 in
Guillerme & Chambron, Set of Six Dining Chairs in Oak and Rush France, 1960s
By Guillerme et Chambron
Located in Almelo, NL
Guillerme & Chambron, set of six dining chairs in oak and rush France, 1960s. Set of six dining chairs in solid oak and rush by Guillerme and Chambron. These chairs show a good backrest combined with the typical sculpted legs of the French creator...
Rush, Oak
$3,800 / set
H 41.5 in W 18 in D 21 in
Set of Six Pietro Costantini Post Modern Lacquered Dining Chairs
By Pietro Costantini
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Chic set of post modern dining chairs designed by Pietro Costantini in San Vito al Torre Italy. The iconic chairs feature sculptural style piano black lacquered frames with conformin...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 20.48 in
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” Dining Chairs for Poltronova, 1964, Set of 4
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Giovanni Michelucci “Torbecchia” dining chairs for Poltronova, Italy, 1964, set of four. Crafted from dark-stained beechwood with woven straw seats, the "Torbecchia" dining chairs f...
Straw, Wood
Sold
H 31.5 in W 19.3 in D 17.72 in
Giovanni Michelucci's set of six "Torbecchia" Dining Chairs, designed for Poltro
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Almelo, NL
Giovanni Michelucci's set of six "Torbecchia" Dining Chairs, designed for Poltronova in Italy 1964. Giovanni Michelucci's set of six "Torbecchia" Dining Chairs, designed for Poltron...
Rush, Walnut
Giovanni Michelucci 'Torbecchia' Italian dining chairs
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in BE
Giovanni Michelucci 'Torbecchia' dining chairs Beautiful dining chairs by renowned Italian designer Giovanni Michelucci. He designed these chairs in the 1960s for the famous manufac...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.14 in W 20.48 in D 16.93 in
G. Michelucci for Poltronova Italian Midcentury Wood Leather Dining Chairs 1960s
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Set of four dining chairs from the Torbecchia S.20 series designed by Giovanni Michelucci and produced by Poltronova with walnut frame and leather upholst...
Leather, Nutwood
Sold
H 29.53 in W 19.69 in D 20.48 in
Torbecchia Chairs in walnut and rush, Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova, 1960s
By Poltronova, Giovanni Michelucci
Located in amstelveen, NL
Set of 8 dining chairs from the Torbecchia series, designed by Giovanni Michelucci for Poltronova in 1964. Solid walnut structure with seats upholstered in rush. The solid wood chai...
Straw, Walnut