15 May 2018 will see the launch of a retrospective exhibition, the first of its kind, at Triennale di Milano. “Osvaldo Borsani” is curated by Norman Foster and Tommaso Fantoni, the grandson of Osvaldo. The show will trace the arc of Borsani’s career, presenting over 300 objects: from unique pieces to industrial icons, alongside an incredibly rich array of archival materials. In anticipation of this expansive exhibition, the Archivio Osvaldo Borsani has invited Ambra Medda to curate a special preview at the Villa Borsani during Salone del Mobile; an unprecedented chance for the international design community to glimpse the private world of an influential yet unsung figure of design history.

Between 1939 and 1945, Borsani designed and built Villa Borsani just north of Milan in Varedo, the same town where Tecno’s factory was a hive of activity for over half a century. Originally conceived as a home for his brother’s family, the Villa was occupied by three generations of Borsani’s until 2008. The extensive archives, housed on the grounds of the Villa, are painstakingly catalogued, and contain thousands of documents including scale drawings, watercolors, photographs and letters spanning the fifty years of Borsani’s career. His curiosity was endless, and demonstrated by his sheer creative output; the archive holds drawings of a multitude of designs including gates, carpets, stained glass windows, cradles, telephone holders, and beehives.

Driven by a life-long philosophy of collaboration, Borsani commissioned artists including Adriano Spilimbergo, Fausto Melotti, Lucio Fontana, Guglielmo Ulrich and Agenore Fabbri to create unique pieces—ranging from mosaics to wall sconces—to embellish the Villa’s interiors. These original features remain beautifully preserved to this day, and are manifestations of the extraordinary exchange of ideas between Italy’s brightest minds in art, architecture, and design during the post-war era.

Villa Borsani: Casa Libera! is envisioned as a celebration of a modernist jewel and a joyous rediscovery of a place suspended in time. The title itself, with its distinctly Milanese connotations, alludes to a feeling of possibility and a chance for people to gather in an unexpected place; not only finding themselves in the historic Villa, but also within the larger setting of Varedo. Casa Libera! captures the welcoming atmosphere Ambra seeks to create through subtle and specific interventions including fragrance, sound, and floral arrangements.

The Villa--which has been unoccupied for nearly a decade--will be brought to life through surprising yet considered elements. Ambra will collaborate with Auckland-based creatives including artist Harry Were, florist Sophie Wolanski, and the multi-talented stylist Katie Lockhart, to imbue the still house with vibrancy and soulfulness.

Ambra notes, “You can immediately feel that this was the beloved home of an architect and a father: exquisitely detailed, extremely functional, built to entertain and yet a place for children to grow. I wanted to highlight the incredible quality apparent within every feature, which is so rare nowadays, whilst preserving an authentic experience.”

This extraordinary residence is set within 3,000 square meters of gardens that feature ivy-covered pergolas. Visitors will be encouraged to enjoy a unique opportunity to experience design history; to spend time in the space and browse highlights from the archive. Following Salone, the Villa will be open by appointment only until 15 September.

In addition to the Salone and Triennale di Milano exhibitions, the Archivio is also announcing a new volume on the complete works, OSVALDO BORSANI: architect, designer, entrepreneur, written by Giampiero Bosoni, which will be published by Skira in April.

About Archivio Osvaldo BorsaniThe Archivio Osvaldo Borsan (A.O.B.), which has existed since the 1930s, was reconfigured in 1991 with the primary aim of preserving and cataloguing the archival records of a leading figure in twentieth-century Italian design. Located inside the Villa Borsani in Varedo, the Archivio houses material from the 1920s onwards, including thousands of original watercolors, technical drawings, and photographs. It also contains the epistolary testimonies of Borsani’s relationships with the most celebrated artists, architects, and exponents of Italian culture of his time. The Archivio is the only institution authorized to certify the authenticity of Osvaldo Borsani’s work. The A.O.B.’s board of directors includes Valeria Borsani Fantoni, Marco Fantoni, Tommaso Fantoni, and Federico Borsani.

About Norman FosterAfter graduating from Manchester University School of Architecture and City Planning in 1961 Norman Foster won a Henry Fellowship to Yale University, where he was a fellow of Jonathan Edwards College and gained a Master’s Degree in Architecture. In 1967 he established Foster Associates, which has since evolved as Foster + Partners, where he continues as Executive Chairman. He became the 21st Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate in 1999 and was awarded the Praemium Imperiale Award for Architecture in Tokyo in 2002. In 2009, he became the 29th laureate of the prestigious Prince of Asturias award for the Arts and was awarded the Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 1997 he was appointed by the Queen of the United Kingdom to the Order of Merit and in 1999 was honoured with a peerage, taking the title of Lord Foster of Thames Bank. Norman Foster is the President of the Norman Foster Foundation. The Norman Foster Foundation, based in Madrid and operating globally, promotes interdisciplinary thinking and research to help new generations of architects, designers and urbanists to anticipate the future.

About Tommaso FantoniTommaso Fantoni established TOMOARCHITECTS in 2011, returning to Milan after a decade working in the London and New York offices of Foster + Partners. During his tenure with the firm, Fantoni participated in a number of international projects including several in New York City: Tower 2 at World Trade Center, the Sperone Westwater Gallery, and Lord Foster’s private residence. TOMOARCHITECTS was founded on the principles of sustainability and simplicity in contemporary architecture. The practice is multidisciplinary, and projects span from residential interiors to cultural institutions--most notably the Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro in Milan--as well as product design presented at the Salone del Mobile.

About Giampiero BosoniGiampiero Bosoni is an architect and full professor of Interior Architecture and History of Design at the Politecnico di Milano. As an editor and author he has published extensively; his works include three books on Franco Albini, as well as the volume Italian Design published by the MoMA New York. In 2007, he co-curated the exhibition “Il Modo Italiano – Italian Design and Avant-garde in the 20th Century” (Fine Arts Museum, Montreal; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; MART, Rovereto). He is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Franco Albini Foundation and of the Italian Design Historians Association (AIS/Design).

About Ambra MeddaAmbra Medda established Ambra Medda Office (AMO) in 2010 to collaborate with brands on special projects, contribute to media, and advise clients in design, fashion and more. Her ability to discover and nurture new talent combines seamlessly with an expertise in facilitating innovative collaborations between designers, curators, students, luxury brands and institutions. Her current and former clients include Airbnb, Audi, Benetton, Christie’s, Fendi, HSBC Private Bank, Louis Vuitton, Roger Vivier, Sport Max, and Tod’s. In 2005, Ambra co-founded Design Miami/, with annual shows in Basel, Switzerland and Miami. Under her leadership as Director over six years, the fair established itself as a global forum and the definitive platform for collectible modern and contemporary design. Ambra was the co-founder and Creative Director of larcobaleno.com, now pamono.com, an online marketplace devoted to collectible design. She is a trustee of the Design Museum in London, where she lives with her partner Edward Barber and their two daughters.