Cini Boeri

Maria Cristina Mariani Dameno, known as "Cini Boeri" (19 June 1924 – 9 September 2020) was an Italian architect and designer.

She was considered "one of the great pioneering women in Italian design and architecture", who was described as a "formidable architect and designer, paragon of Milanese elegance and verve."

Cini Boeri was born in 1924.

She grew up in Milan and graduated with a degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1951 – one of only three female graduates that year.

In her career, she has collaborated with lighting brand Artemide and furniture makers Knoll, Magis (Italian company) and Arflex.

In 1951, after her graduation, she had a short experience with Gio Ponti—a famous master of Italian design and architecture—she started to collaborate with Marco Zanuso, another acclaimed architect and designer.

Boeri earned her degree at the Politecnico di Milano university in 1951.

At that time, there were more female interior designers than architects because it was thought that women were too fragile to work outside.

After collaborating with Marco Zanuso from 1951 through 1963, she started an independent architectural practice.

Her main focuses in architecture were civil and interior architecture, as well as industrial design.

1952 Compasso d'Oro industrial design award

During the 1960s, Cini Boeri completed a series of remarkable residential projects in Sardinia, showcasing her versatility and design prowess.

Notable among these were Casa Bunker, a brutalist structure situated atop a cliff, and Villa Rotonda, an elegantly designed snail-shaped residence.

Both projects were carefully crafted to establish a harmonious dialogue with the surrounding landscapes, reflecting Cini Boeri's sensitivity to the environment and her ability to integrate architecture seamlessly into nature.

Between the 1960 to 1970, she challenged a lot in some popular philosophy of comfort, resembles her works in its form.

In 1963 she opened her own studio in Milan focusing on architecture, interior, and exhibit design both in Italy and abroad.

Another notable project, Casa nel bosco from 1969, was nestled within a birch forest in Lombardy.

Here, Cini Boeri's ingenuity was evident in the fragmented architecture, cleverly articulated to avoid the need to fell the large trees encircling the site.

This approach showcased her deep appreciation for the natural surroundings and her commitment to sustainable and considerate design.

Cini Boeri's influence and creativity extended far beyond her lifetime, leaving a lasting impact on the world of architecture and design.

Cini Boeri's impact on the world of design extended beyond her iconic furniture pieces, as much of her work remains in production today due to the modular and functional nature of her designs.

This testament to the timeless quality of her creations highlights her unwavering dedication to functionality in addition to aesthetics.

Through her furniture and architectural work, Cini Boeri not only left a lasting imprint on the design world but also demonstrated her exceptional ability to create functional, innovative, and environmentally sensitive spaces.

Her influence continues to inspire contemporary designers, making her legacy a cherished and enduring one.

In the 1970s, Boeri began designing showrooms for Knoll in Europe and America.

She also designed a variety of sofas and chairs for the company, some of which are still in production today.

In addition, she worked for a variety of other design companies, including lighting company Artemide, furniture company Arflex, and the housewares company Rosenthal.

Some do not know that Boeri was a trained architect because of her work for Knoll and Arflex.

Different examples of her work can be found in museums and international exhibitions.

Boeri was awarded many prizes; among those, in 1979 a Compasso D'Oro for her "Strips" sofa system for arflex, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Italian Cultural Institute of Los Angeles in 2008.

1979 Compasso d'Oro award

From 1981 to 1983 she taught architectural planning and industrial design at the Politecnico University in Milan.

She was made a Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana in 2011, and was awarded the Ambrogino d'oro Gold Medal from the city of Milan in 2019.

2011 Compasso d'Oro Lifetime Achievement award

2011 Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

2012 Nominata Socio Onorario ADI

She died on 9 September 2020 in Milan, Italy at the age of 96.

Cini Boeri was known as her furniture pieces design, and it became widely recognized, but it's important to note that Cini Boeri was also a trained architect, and her talents shone through in various architectural projects she undertook both domestically and internationally.