Timeline

The origins of Tecno: ABV 1923

The origins of Tecno: ABV

1923

Atelier di Varedo was established in the early 1920s, which went on to become Arredamenti Borsani Varedo (ABV). The very first products made in the workshop owned by Gaetano Borsani, father of twin brothers Osvaldo and Fulgenzio, were typical items of period furniture made according to the artisan traditions of the Brianza area.

Between 1925 and 1927 began a stylistic development tied to the emergence of Osvaldo's distinctive style. By 1933 and the 5^th Milan Triennial Exhibition, Osvaldo Borsani's style was official. In 1932, the company moved to a new factory and simultaneously inaugurated a shop and design studio in Via Montenapoleone, Milan. Throughout the thirties and forties, Borsani dedicated his efforts to the creation of furniture for large domestic environments and for the wealthy professional studios of the Lombardy region.

The little house 1923

The little house

1923

For the 5^th Triennial Exhibition in 1933, as part of the "Habitation Exhibition", along with Cairoli and Varisco, Borsani designed and built their "Little House", intended to showcase a clear rationalist system in the space distribution and the articulation of its volumes. The furnishings were what attracted the most interest. Based on an uncoordinated approach to furniture, each item became important for its own intrinsic qualities, fully autonomous yet still capable of "relating" to other items. Osvaldo Borsano thus won himself the Silver Medal.

Formation 1953

Formation

1953

In the early 1950s, Osvaldo Borsani began to conceive of a transition from traditional craft production to industrial manufacturing, a change in direction that would lead to the formation of a new company: Tecno. Osvaldo, however, had attended art school in Brera and had graduated in architecture at the Polytechnic of Milan, and was determined to interpret the changing lifestyle and tastes of the period. Osvaldo's brother, Fulgenzio, had studied economics and was therefore ideally suited to the role of careful administrator of the company.

The 10th Triennial Exhibition 1954

The 10th Triennial Exhibition

1954

Tecno's first “official” presentation was in 1954 at the 10^th Milan Triennial Exhibition. This event proved crucial for the recently formed company. Going beyond a simple product display, Tecno created “contexts” within which its furnishing elements could be arranged, shown and promoted within a new domestic setting. The aim was to provide furnishing solutions that offered freedom to compose different layouts with mass produced furniture.

The patented D70 divan bed, designed by Osvaldo Borsani, was presented in the Exhibition of individual furniture items, while a whole pavilion entitled Exhibition of series furniture was set up in the Triennial park to display a selection of furniture units and industrially produced objects. A large number of Tecno products were also included in the furnishings of the USA section, located inside the famous geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller.

Osvaldo Borsani's
design philosophy 1954

Osvaldo Borsani's
design philosophy

1954

The switch from ABV's craft traditions to Tecno's industrial production was made possible by the contemporary evolution in design and vision, an evolution on which Osvaldo Borsani continued to build his career as designer and entrepreneur. As an entrepreneur, Borsani was well aware how important it was to have "original ideas" and to "satisfy requirements". As a sensitive designer, he also felt the need to search for innovation in the form and use of objects for the home.

Consequently, by experimenting with new dimensions in home furnishings, Borsani became one of the most influential figures in the contemporary school of Italian design that would soon change the world. Borsani eventually formulated a global approach to design in which “the figures of designer, maker, art director and distributor merge harmoniously into one”, and was convinced that “the contribution of the designer must not be a fleeting one, but must be close, intense and lasting […]”.

The Tecno logo 1954

The Tecno logo

1954

By the time Osvaldo Borsani saw the need to form a new company to mass produce furniture elements, he already understood the essential role of graphics in communicating a new corporate image. Borsani was inspired by the simple, immediate and dynamic communication achieved during that era by several American communication campaigns.

These became key concepts used to create a succinct graphic logo for Tecno. The famous capital “T” logo made its first appearance in 1954, at Tecno's presentation for the 10^th Milan Triennial. Roberto Mango was the man responsible for this powerfully iconic creation. The “T” has been the keystone of Tecno's graphic image ever since.

Tecno's first
"major projects" 1956

Tecno's first
"major projects"

1956

One characteristic of Tecno's early market approach could be traced back to the workshops of ABV. This was Tecno's commitment to creating “special” or “custom” designs to run alongside its series products. Today, these designs come under the auspices of “Tecno Engineering”. Tecno's custom designs, however, differed from those of ABV.

While ABV creations had generally been one-off series for small or medium rooms in wealthy homes or managerial offices, Tecno was more interested in developing solutions for large buildings and public spaces, where complex technical problems had to be overcome. Airports, stations, hospitals and office blocks were typical examples. Following a meeting with Enrico Mattei in 1956, Tecno was asked to fit out the interiors of ENI's office blocks. Borsani seized the opportunity to introduce important innovations in the rapidly developing field of office furniture design.

This experience in design and production for Enrico Mattei and ENI served as a launch pad from which Tecno went on to tackle other major projects and to offer key account customers that unique combination of top quality, striking design, advanced technology and industrial production that would become one of the company's most distinctive features.

Graphis:
the big hit 1968

Graphis:
the big hit

1968

The Graphis office system was introduced in 1968: two sheet metal corner pieces supported the work tops, and the choice of colour - white - was unheard of in the world of office furniture. The Graphis system was presented at the 15^th Milan Triennial Exhibition entitled “The big hit”. The new system's absolute, elementary form provided a radical interpretation of the spirit of the times. With the introduction of this “mature” series-made system, Tecno confirmed its switch to industrial production.

The “Centro Progetti Tecno” 1970

The “Centro Progetti Tecno”

1970

Tecno's industrial and communication design work is conducted since 1970 by the Tecno Design Centre. Osvaldo Borsani is supported by engineers, architects and graphics experts, aided by some of Tecno's key figures in various roles. The formation of the Tecno Design Centre confirms a decision that had already been taken within the company: that future designs should be presented as group creations, with a clear and easily identifiable communicative style. The new industrial designs introduced in this period coincided with the opening of a new, larger production plant in Varedo. Soon, the administrative and registered offices were transferred to the new plant too.

Nomos
Norman Foster 1986

Nomos
Norman Foster

1986

Fundamental for Tecno is the experience acquired together with Norman Foster on the new office system, Nomos, which went on to become an design icon, boosting Tecno's worldwide image. The initial meeting between Foster and Tecno, followed by two years of work, resulted in an unending stream of designs followed by no fewer models and prototypes created by Tecno to achieve an industrial result nearly identical to the original. Indeed, Foster’s initial design is a handmade product, a table that the architect designed for his studio and of which only a few were made, including for the Renault Centre in Swindon. Nomos was devised to be a platform, available in several versions, resting on a central backbone supported by four tilted legs ending with shaped feet like those of the LEM, the module which landed on the moon in 1969.

Golden Compass 1988

Golden Compass

1988

In 1988, Tecno Spa won its first Golden Compass for its contribution to architectural quality.

The return to art 1991

The return to art

1991

Artistic relationships have always played a key role in the history of Tecno. A group of futuristic artists helped design some of the first products of ABV, but it was not really until the mid 1930s and Osvaldo Borsani's meeting with the artist Lucio Fontana that a lasting partnership was formed, capable of engendering a large number of creative opportunities and exploring the relationship between art and interior furniture design. To celebrate this enthralling history, in 1991 Tecno produced a collection representing this period. This proposal led to the creation of the “ABV Collection”, involving artists of the calibre of: Agenore Fabbri and Arnaldo Pomodoro, Getulio Alviani, Carlo Mo, Man Ray, Luigi Veronesi, Jeffrey Steele, François and Frédéric Morellet.

Milan offices 2008

Milan offices

2008

The Porta Garibaldi Excise Buildings
Piazza XXV Aprile – Milan

After extensive adaptation and refurbishment work, in 2008 Tecno inaugurated its new Milan offices in the Porta Garibaldi Excise Buildings in Piazza XXV Aprile, (built in 1826). The Excise Buildings stand on Corso Garibaldi, which connects the Brera district with the Garibaldi train station. In recent years the area has undergone a radical transformation as a result of the major urban redevelopment project, becoming one of the most attractive international hubs for the hi-tech, financial and retail industry.

Refurbishment to the original plans has restored the buildings to the city of Milan in their original 19^th Century appearance but effectively restructured in terms of internal space and technical systems. The two buildings house Tecno's furnishings collection in a continuous space laid out according to the criteria of flexibility, rigour and elegance that permeates all Tecno projects.

New Headquarters 2010

New Headquarters

2010

Inaugurated in 2010, Tecno's new headquarters in Mariano Comense are part of a process of renewal that has involved the entire company in recent years. Re-evaluation of the principles of design, craftsmanship, quality and customer service that determined the company's past success is an essential part of Tecno's new strategy.

It is on these same values and on the “discrete elegance of technology” that Tecno plans to build its future by renewing its international presence, paying closer attention to historical and contemporary products, and emphasising the roles of the Tecno Design Centre and Tecno Engineering. Tecno's Mariano Comense headquarters provides 14,000 m2 of space and is home to the company's R&D department, craft carpentry operations, logistics, sales and administration offices. Steel part and mechanical component production and other special processes have been outsourced to participated companies in order to streamline internal work flows.

The new headquarters enables Tecno's customers to experience the product development process and Tecno's business philosophy in a dynamically growing environment.

The Milan Triennial Exhibition 2011

The Milan Triennial Exhibition

2011

“The discrete elegance of technology
”An exhibition by Pierluigi Cerri
Concept and installation by Studio Cerri & Associati
Image storyline by Giampiero Bosoni
Book published by Skira Editore

For the presentation of the book entitled “TECNO. The discrete elegance of technology", dedicated to the history of the company, a namesake exhibition was presented at Milan's Triennial Expo palace. The exhibition, curated by architect Pierluigi Cerri, focused attention on three of Tecno's most iconic designs, presented in theatrical settings, hanging on walls, exploded into their individual components and arranged in realistic layouts. The technical richness and complexity of the exhibits was emphasised by stark contrast with the untreated wood of the structure's oblique walls.

The three selected designs, all important milestones in the history of Tecno and Italian design in general, were the P40 armchair designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1955, the Nomos table, designed by Norman Foster in 1986 and the Modus office chair designed by Tecno's own Design Centre in 1972. Each of these products represents a concentration of technology and creative imagination. The iconic “T” of the TECNO logo provided a distinctive graphic theme for the exhibition.

The discrete elegance
of technology 2011

The discrete elegance
of technology

2011

Giampiero Bosoni
“Tecno. The discrete elegance of technology
”Published by Skira Editore

Giampiero Bosoni's book Tecno. The discrete elegance of technology was published to coincide with the exhibition of the same name held at the 2011 Triennial Expo palace in Milan. The book describes design, production and corporate culture and explains how Tecno became one of the leaders in Italian style thanks to the evolution of a new design language based on elegance and technical innovation. The book contains over 300 images that relate the forward-thinking lives of brothers Osvaldo and Fulgenzio Borsani, respectively designer and administrator of Tecno after its establishment in 1953.

The book starts with Tecno's origins in Atelier Borsani, founded by Gaetano Borsani in the 1920s, and describes the family firm's traditions of craftsmanship and technique and its subsequent transformation into ABV (Arredamenti Borsani Varedo). The work then goes on to present the first achievements of the 1950s, with designs like the D70 and P40 before moving on to the early 1970s and highly successful, mass produced designs like the Graphis office system and Modus chair. The book also recounts the significant chapter in the history of the company and of interior architecture with multiple projects made to measure designed by some of the most famous international architects, which are illustrated fully in the last chapters of the book. The book ends with a glimpse at the new millennium and at office systems like Beta by Pierandrei Associati, emphasising how, from 1953 to the present day, Tecno has always been a fertile environment. Its ideas, projects and people have contributed - and are still contributing - to the evolution of design, amid culture and technology.

Tecno New York 2013

Tecno New York

2013

In 2013, the company opened an office in Midtown Manhattan. The space has become a point of reference and operational support for local distributors and for the community of specifiers. The on-site presence of specialist staff will make it possible to bring the flexibility and design expertise that have always distinguished Tecno to the area.

io.T
The intelligence of Tecno 2015

io.T
The intelligence of Tecno

2015

io.T is the innovative project combining the tangible, analogue world with the intangible world of digital through a system of smart furnishings. The profound cultural and strategic change under way in work environments, which are currently dominated by permanent connectivity and new functional and flexible physical layouts, has led Tecno to develop the first system of furnishings interconnected with the environment which - thanks to invisible sensors incorporated into the product - can activate functions useful to the user and send information in real-time to allow resource optimisation.

Tecno takes over Ottagono 2015

Tecno takes over Ottagono

2015

Affinity, common paths, desire of taking back the project to the middle of the discussion and of the development of the Italian furnishing sector led TECNO to take over the brand and the historical archive of OTTAGONO magazine.

Tecno Londra 2015

Tecno Londra

2015

In 2015, Tecno opened its London office in the Eastern part of the city, in Whitechapel, one of the most popular up and coming areas of the capital, a favourite among well-known architects practices and developers. The new office is part of The Loom, an historic Victorian building which used to house an old fabric factory. The premises, fitted out with pieces from the historic and contemporary collection, is designed for users to enjoy the experience of the Internet of things thanks to the io.T smart furnishings. The London Tecno office is in a position to offer planning design, consulting and project management activities.

Tecno Madrid 2016

Tecno Madrid

2016

Tecno is reinforcing its Spanish market presence, pursuing its strategy of dominating the main international markets that since 2013 has led to the opening of Tecno offices in all the major capitals. The premises in Madrid are a place packed with expertise that offers architects, interior designers, planners and specifiers technical solutions for products and space layout within complex, sophisticated projects. Taking centre stage in this space is the innovative io.T Intelligence of Tecno system which makes furnishings smart and interconnected, developed by Tecno in 2015.

Redesigning the future of the future work 2016

Redesigning the future of the future work

2016

Once upon a time, it was unthinkable to browse with just one finger, connect to a wireless network and answer a ringing phone from your watch. With the onset of the digital era, we have begun to conceive a future in which we can be in two places at once or get around using driverless cars. Because every day the world changes, and we change with it. We change the way we live, our habits, our behaviour. Within this change, our way of working changes too.

With this in mind, since 2014 Tecno – always focused on seizing on developments as they unfold – has redesigned the future of the workplace through a series of furnishings conceived to enhance well-being within workspaces. Hence the launch of the io.T system of smart furnishings, the tool-free Clavis work system, the Vela responsive seat and the W80 partition designed to accommodate all possible technology.

Tecno Parigi 2017

Tecno Parigi

2017

In 2017, Tecno opened its Parisian office in the Maison d’Ozenfant, the house-atelier designed by Le Corbusier in 1922 for artist Amédée Ozenfant, the architect's first residential project. The architecture is modern, with a purist feel, flooded with light. The Parisian house has become a place for relationships and encounters between architects, interior designers and specifiers, a space for exchange and identifying innovative solutions.

Tecno and Zanotta - A common design

In the unwavering growth span of the historic brand founded in the 1950s, in 2017 Tecno acquires a majority stake in Zanotta, one of Italian design's most well-loved and leading companies.

Tecno and Zanotta have two parallel stories, and they have decided to share their uniqueness, expertise, reputation and credibility to boost growth in the main international markets, aiming for a comprehensive offer for the contract and office system, the reference area of Tecno, as well as for the home and hospitality area, a sector in which Zanotta has always excelled.

Tecno: The Project 2017

Tecno: The Project

2017

With its book entitled Tecno: The Project, the company, famous for its collection of Edizioni Tecno displays, shines the spotlight once again on the project, by publishing its latest achievements. “We don’t want a catalogue that recounts our successes in chronological order, we want a book that goes so far as the attempt to convey what we are capable of achieving, even if often, in the beginning, not even we can foresee the point we’ll get to.” The result of this statement by Giuliano Mosconi, Tecno CEO, is in the pages of this book, which couldn't help but have the title of “Tecno: the project”: a dialogue between the company and ever new and varied customers, penetrating offices, public venues, museums, waiting rooms, and private companies all over the world.

Nomos30 2018

Nomos30

2018

In 1987, Tecno and Norman Foster produced Nomos, a system of tables and desks that changed our way of thinking about the object that is the table forever. This shining example of collaboration between an industry and an architect will mark a milestone in the history of industrial design. Tecno is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of this icon with a series of exhibitions and events across the country dedicated to the product and its designer, design and industrial production through the original designs by Norman Foster, the technical drawings selected from the Tecno archives, and pictures taken by master photographer Mauro Masera.

Tecno Dubai 2018

Tecno Dubai

2018

Tecno has opened its Dubai office in the Dubai Design District. The d3 district aims to be a creative ecosystem to give rise to innovative, authentic and significant ideas for the city. As part of this, the company office showcases its product collections, including multiple icons of international design, while also working as a place for getting together and swapping ideas. Tecno provides architects, interior designers and specifiers all its expertise and know-how in the achievement of highly complex, tailor-made project.

Tecno for Vatican Chapels 2018

Tecno for Vatican Chapels

2018

In 2018, for the first time in history, the Holy See is attending the Biennale di Architettura di Venezia with its own pavilion. The Vatican Chapels project, curated by Francesco Dal Co, comes to San Giorgio Maggiore island within the oasis of the woods with a series of ten genuine chapels designed by as many architects from all over the world. Among the architects invited, Norman Foster chose Tecno to build his chapel: the concept has as its starting point three symbolic crosses and a wooden bridge which gradually became a deck and a tensegrity structure supporting a wooden lattice. The chapel is a special project that once again confirms the relationship between Norman Foster and Tecno, a thirty-year collaboration that has led to the development of iconic products like the Nomos table and construction of prestigious interior architecture such as the Carré d’Art Museum in Nîmes, the British Museum in London and the offices of the premises of Porcelanosa and NBK.

Tecno Seul 2018

Tecno Seul

2018

Tecno Tecno has inaugurated an office in Seoul in the Gangnam district to boost its presence in the Far East. The new location spans 2 storeys and an overall surface area of 400 square metres, with huge windows overlooking Nonhyunro, the famous design street. The opening was achieved in partnership with Hanssem, a listed leading group in turnkey projects for the residential sector, which together with Tecno can now handle large and medium-sized projects in the office and top-level contract industry.

Tecno Warsaw 2018

Tecno Warsaw

2018

Tecno inaugurates in Warsaw. An extensive 400 square-metre glazed space, spanning two storeys, welcomes the collections which boast the brand’s ever-present distinctive design. An alternation of meeting areas and work spaces, which illustrate Osvaldo Borsani’s iconic products, P32, P40 and D70, alongside more recent products, such as the Clavis table and workstation range or the Vela seats, which claimed the Compasso d’Oro award in 2016. One storey, the first floor, comprises a large communal space with a huge relaxation area and a cafeteria to reflect new contemporary workplaces. Tecno reinforces its presence across Europe and confirms its role as a key player on the international scene, providing the community of architects with its wealth of know-how on manufacturing, design and technological innovation.

Timeline

The origins of Tecno: ABV

1923

The little house

1923

Formation

1953

The 10th Triennial Exhibition

1954

Osvaldo Borsani's design philosophy

1954

The Tecno logo

1954

Tecno's first "major projects"

1956

Graphis: the big hit

1968

The “Centro Progetti Tecno”

1970

Nomos Norman Foster

1986

Golden Compass

1988

The return to art

1991

Milan offices

2008

New Headquarters

2010

The Milan Triennial Exhibition

2011

The discrete elegance of technology

2011

Tecno New York

2013

io.T The intelligence of Tecno

2015

Tecno takes over Ottagono

2015

Tecno Londra

2015

Tecno Madrid

2016

Redesigning the future of the future work

2016

Tecno Parigi

2017

Tecno and Zanotta - A common design

Tecno: The Project

2017

Nomos30

2018

Tecno Dubai

2018

Tecno for Vatican Chapels

2018

Tecno Seul

2018

Tecno Warsaw

2018

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Osvaldo Borsani's
design philosophy

Tecno's first
"major projects"

Graphis:
the big hit

Nomos
Norman Foster

The discrete elegance
of technology

io.T
The intelligence of Tecno