Aria Journal:
Artemide’s Nesso lamp, known for its playful, jellyfish-like silhouette, is an icon of modern design, with a strong presence on interior inspiration blogs and Instagram feeds due to its warm, ambient aesthetic. Designed by Giancarlo Mattioli in the 1960s, Nesso was the first lamp made entirely of plastic; a radical departure from the functional, industrial designs common at the time. This enabled playful forms and unique light diffusion: by concealing the bulbs entirely, Mattioli and his team eliminated glare and achieved a soft, organic glow.
Nesso’s Design carries a surprising history. In 1961, after studying architecture in Florence, Mattioli founded the Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova. This collective of young professionals rebelled against the traditional, hierarchical model of the architect as an ‘individual creator.’ Instead, the group aimed to work with local communities, building design from the ground up rather than imposing top-down visions.
Pictured: Giancarlo Mattioli
In 1965, the group entered and won the Studio Artemide Domus di Milano competition, launched by Artemide and Editrice Domus, with their design for Nesso. The lamp entered production in 1967, quickly winning numerous awards and becoming an icon of 1960s Italian design. In 2003, Artemide introduced Nessino, a more compact version that retains Nesso’s unique shape, bringing the lamp to a wider audience. Today, Nessino is a staple of interiors worldwide.
Nesso in 'Mad Men', Production Designer: Dan Bishop, Set Decorators: Claudette Didul and Amy Wells
Mattioli’s career continued in urban planning; he served as the technical author for the Bologna Municipality’s urban plans from the late 1960s until 1999. In this role, Mattioli contributed to the preservation and representation of the Historical centre of Bologna, which, in his own words, ‘started a series of sector studies on directional centres, social housing, historical centres, green spaces [and] schools.’ His approach consistently paired technical experts with local correspondents to ensure that urban planning reflected the needs of the affected communities.
Mattioli’s complex identity as a designer, architect, urban planner, portrait painter, and intellectual bridges the gap between architectural city planning and the interior design of a home. Ultimately, Mattioli's work indicates that good design, small or large scale, is rooted in civic minded thinking. Nesso’s success lies in bringing the comfort of community and human focused design directly into our home spaces.
You can shop Nesso/Nessino here.
Sources:
“Gruppo Architetti Urbanisti Città Nuova.” Artemide www.artemide.com/en/company/designers/23276/gruppo-architetti-urbanisti-citta-nuova
Filippo De Pieri and Paolo Scrivano. “Representing the ‘Historical Centre’ of Bologna: Preservation policies and reinvention of an urban identity.” Urban History Review, vol. 33, no. 1, Sept. 2004 https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/uhr/2004-v33-n1-uhr0580/1015673ar.pdf
“Design Story: The Story behind the Artemide Nesso Lamp.” Davinis davinis.eu/blogs/nieuws/design-story-artemide-nesso-lamp
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