Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova
Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova was a collective of Italian designers and architects who, during the creative boom of the 1960s, embraced formal innovation, new materials, and the democratization of design. Their work became a symbol of the optimism and creativity of Made in Italy. Here we explore their spirit and one of their most iconic creations.
Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova: Modernity and Italian experimentation
Founded in Milan during the 1960s, the group belonged to a generation that viewed design as a vehicle for social and cultural change. Inspired by the rise of plastics and the possibilities of industrial production, they experimented with new forms, colours, and technologies that marked a clear break from tradition.
Their creations combined functionality with an avant-garde aesthetic, where soft curves and vibrant colours became defining features. Their work reflected a desire to bring modernity into the home, turning design into an everyday and optimistic language.
Among their most representative designs is:
- The Nesso lamp: created in 1967 for Artemide, it is an absolute icon of Italian design. Made from moulded polycarbonate, its mushroom-shaped form and warm light defined a new era in domestic lighting. Nesso symbolises the union of technology, art, and accessibility—core values of the group.
Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova embodies the creative energy of an era when design dared to dream about the future. Their legacy lives on through pieces that retain their freshness and expressive power more than half a century later.