I believe the world does not need more objects. It needs better ones — designed with care, with awareness of how people live, and with the intention to last.
- ANTONIO CITTERIO
THE GENTLEMAN OF DESIGN
Photography: Gianluca Di Ioia
For over five decades, Antonio Citterio has quietly reshaped the way we inhabit our homes. Born in Meda — a small town near Milan that is the historic heart of Italian furniture production — Citterio grew up surrounded by master craftsmen perfecting their art. He opened his design studio in 1972, three years before graduating in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano, and has since become one of the most influential designers in the world.
His philosophy is disarmingly simple: observe how people actually live, then design around that reality. No theatrical gestures, no designs that prioritize spectacle over substance. His sofas should be comfortable. His kitchens should work. His buildings should feel inevitable. The result is a body of work that defines contemporary Italian design — functional, elegant, and built to endure generations.
Today, Citterio leads ACPV Architects alongside Patricia Viel, overseeing a team of 175 architects on projects spanning from the Bulgari Hotels to the Enel Headquarters in Rome. In parallel, he continues his industrial design work with the brands that have defined the field, including two of Salone’s core brands — Flexform and Arclinea,
CITTERIO’S ICONIC WORKS
FLEXFORM
A.B.C.
1996
A low-slung armchair that channels the Modern Movement through a distinctly contemporary lens. The tubular metal frame holds deep block cushions that sit close to the ground — a proportion that felt radical in the nineties and still feels fresh today. A patented reclining mechanism and optional cowhide armrests make it as functional as it is sculptural. Nearly 30 years on, it remains a Flexform icon.
FLEXFORM
Groundpiece
2001
The sofa that changed how we live. Citterio took seating off its legs and placed it at the center of the room — low, deep, and deliberately informal. Inspired by Donald Judd's ground-level sculptures, the design replaced formal seating with a living platform: goose-down cushions for resting, console-like armrests for working, integrated shelving for everyday objects. Over two decades later, Groundpiece remains Flexform's bestseller and one of the most important sofas in contemporary design.
FLEXFORM
Gregory
2020
A sofa and a bed with bold personality and impeccable proportions. Gregory's metal base is laced with criss-crossing leather straps — a deliberate nod to modernist masters like Mies van der Rohe. As Citterio puts it: "Webbing, for designers, is a reminder of the great heroes of design." Goose-down cushions and couture grosgrain piping complete a design that balances classicism with modernity.
ARCLINEA
Convivium
2002
Winner of the EDIDA Award 2019, Convivium is the kitchen that ended the separation between cooking and living. Convivium introduced the integrated island-and-table concept — a functional workspace that extends into an Era wood table, transforming food preparation into a shared social ritual. As Citterio describes it: "a place to live the preparation and consumption of food through a shared experience."
ARCLINEA
Thea
2018
A timeless Arclinea kitchen that reinterprets tradition with contemporary precision. Thea is defined by solid wood craftsmanship, framed doors, and architectural proportions that feel both classic and rigorously modern. Rooted in Italian heritage yet adaptable to present-day living, it brings warmth, restraint, and quiet authority to the heart of the home.
ARCLINEA
Proxima
2024
Arclinea's newest kitchen transforms functionality into aesthetics. Inspired by professional kitchens, Proxima integrates large appliances within an evolved design — including the Hortus hydroponic herb garden and the Inverso rotating cabinet. As Citterio says: "a space to be shared, not segregated."
Photography: Mattia Parodi
When I design a chair or a sofa, I don't isolate it from its surroundings. I think about the space it lives in, the gestures of the people who use it, and how light, proportions, and relationships shape the experience.
- ANTONIO CITTERIO
EXPERIENCE CITTERIO AT SALONE
ARCLINEA
As art director, Citterio has shaped Arclinea's identity as the world's foremost luxury kitchen brand. His approach goes beyond designing individual models — instead creating elements that carry their own character while staying open to how people evolve and live.
Convivium · Gamma · Lignum et Lapis · Italia
FLEXFORM
Citterio has been Flexform's defining design voice for over four decades. Together, they've created a shared language based on measured elegance, comfort, and timelessness — producing sofas, armchairs, beds, and tables that become quiet cornerstones of the home.
Groundpiece · Soft Dream · Gregory · Supermax · Cestone · Camelot · A.B.C.
Visit Salone in the Las Vegas Arts District to experience Antonio Citterio's designs for Flexform and Arclinea. Our team can guide you through the collections and help specify pieces for your project.