Biography
Born 1952 in Bolzano/South Tirol. Studied under Oskar Kokoschka at the Salzburg Academy. In 1975 he was awarded his P.H.D. in architecture at the University of Florence, Italy. In 1981 in collaboration with Ettore Sottsass, he formed Sottsass Associati and the Memphis design group and between 1983 and 1996 he was Professor of Design at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. Matteo Thun inaugurated his own Design Studio in Milan in 1984.
The Studio
Both his design and architectural projects are located between "good design" and "new design". His design language is unmistakably recognizable on an international level. The architectural sector includes the external façades for industrial and administrative buildings - Coca Cola, Villeroy & Boch, Bauer Kaba - as well as hotel design. The language continues in his private housing projects: from exclusive luxury projects (Villa Beautiful, Villa Bella) to low-energy prefab-system (O Sole Mio). Also very important are his works in the sector shop design such as Swatch, Missoni, Dunkin' Donuts, Francorosso, and Luca Luca. His design work embraces high-class objects, such as for Alessi, Bulgari and Tiffany, through to a myriad of consumer goods: glasses for Campari, espresso cups for Illy and Lavazza, lighting systems for AEG, Zumtobel, Flos and Leucos, bathroom sets for Keramag, Pozzi Ginori, Allia and Rapsel, sunglasses for Silhouette, watches for Omega, Bulgari and Tiffany, office chairs for MartinStoll and United Office, cutlery and tableware for WMF, china for Rosenthal, furniture for Kartell, upholstery for Wittmann and Rossi di Albizzate, sailing boats for Dehler, carpets for Vorwerk. His work has also included art direction for Nachtmann, Lichtcrystal und Marc Aurel, and from 1990 until 1993 for Swatch.
Statement
"We are global players - an international staff for international clients. We prefer heterogeneity to homogeneity. There is not only one discernible "best way" to obtain the best result. Milan system is our power: involved in fashion currents, design and architecture, we are ready every day to renew our creativity" (M.T.)
