Afra & Tobia Scarpa

The married couple Afra & Tobia Scarpa are born in 1937 and 1935 respectively. During their careers, the Scarpa spouses would develop a unique collaboration that would result in several design classics and many prestigious awards such as the Compasso d'Oro they received in 1969 and the International Forum Design in 1992. Their creations can be found today in museums around the world such as the MoMA and Louvre collections.

Afra & Tobia Scarpa study architecture at the Università Iuav di Venezia where they graduate in 1957. A few years after their studies, they open their own design office in 1960 in Montebelluna. They collaborate with several famous companies such as B&B Italia, Cassina and Knoll International. Together they create the Bastiano, Coronado and Soriana furniture ranges, among others.

Afra & Tobia Scarpa are greatly influenced by Tobias' father, Carlo Scarpa, who was a very famous architect and designer. The Scarpas' work encompasses both architecture and everyday objects. Great emphasis is placed on the technical and aesthetic aspects in the creation of their objects.

In 1964 they collaborate with the clothing company Benetton. They design the company's first factory and also the interiors of its offices in Paris, New York and elsewhere. A major milestone in their career, and in the design world at large, came in 1973 when they designed the Papillion lamp for Flos. This was one of the first design lamps to use halogen technology. Using new and modern technology with respect for history, form and function have been important aspects throughout Afra & Tobia Scarpa's career.

At NO GA you will find several of the Scarpa couple's iconic creations. The sculptural Biagio lamp for Flos, the Pigreco chair that is now back in production by Tacchini and the Soriana furniture range from Cassina that came into the world in 1970.