Born in Venice in 1935, Tobia Scarpa i- son of famed architect Carlo Scarpa – is a designer and architect.
Along with his wife, Afra, he began working with Venini glassworks in Murano in the 1950s. In 1960, the couple established their design office in Montebelluna. Together, they created works for companies such as B&B Italia, Flos, Cassina and Knoll. Their work ranged from glass, furniture, and lighting design to interiors and architecture, and embraced a variety of materials and expanding technologies. Their designs championed a decidedly modernist aesthetic, prioritising elegance and comfort. At the same time, the Scarpas’ pieces were admired for the ease with which they complemented more classical designs.
Many of his designs can also be found on show in some of the world’s key museums, such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
As an architect he has worked for both public and private clients including the Benetton Group for whom he famously designed the industrial area and production plants in Treviso.
The designer’s career has been long and prolific, filled with significant honours, including the Compasso d’Oro Award in 1969 and the iF Design Award in 1992.
