Franco Campo & Carlo Graffi Biography
Franco Campo (1926 - ) was born in 1926 and was assistant to the Chair of Architectural Composition at the faculty of Turin. While Carlo Graffi (1925 - 1985), born in 1925, was assistant to the Chair of Elements of Composition of the same faculty. This is how the two met as university students at the Polytechnic of Turin, students of Carlo Mollino and, after graduating in 1950, they continued to collaborate with their professor of architecture and design. In the early works of Campo and Graffi, Mollino's influence is evident with their use of supine curves and organic materials. In the 1950s, Graffi and Campo designed customized interiors and furniture, collaborating with decorators, shops and private clients. Subsequently, their work was inspired by the city of Turin, and their furniture became more rigid and sculptural, emphasizing the joints and construction of forms. In 1956, Campo and Graffi opened their innovative Home furniture atelier. In an effort to make good design available to everyone, they made teak furniture and designs imported from Scandinavia. The house was a successful venture, with offices in both Genoa and Rome. Tragically, a fire destroyed the factory in 1964, ending both Home and the collaboration between Campo and Graffi. After the separation, Graffi continued to work with Carlo Mollino and Campo continued to design furniture and interiors. Although their period of collaboration had been short, Campo and Graffi's democratic projects were influential in the camp.
