’Radical Disco’: scrutinising the design and architecture of Italian nightlife

New York’s Studio 54 may be the iconic discothèque but the Italians took to nightclubbing with equal fervor, lustily embracing it as a liberating force, especially on the design front.
'Radical Disco', a new show at London’s ICA, looks at remarkable series of discothèques designed by architects such as Gruppo 9999, Superstudio and UFO who rallied under the Radical Design banner.
These architects saw discothéque design as a means of personal and professional liberation and experimentation (beware though disco fans, the show only covers the decade up to 1975 and these clubs are more hippy hangouts and place for 'happenings' than glitter-balled boogie zones). Indeed, for these architects, the nightclub had a political purpose as a new kind of multi-disciplinary space, socially and architecturally radical.
Using film, photographs, music and architectural drawings, the story starts with a club called the Pipers which opened in Rome in 1965 (Pipers became a generic terms for similar clubs that opened in its wake). The club included reconfigurable furniture, advanced (for the time) audio-visual technology and art from Piero Manzoni and Andy Warhol and stages for visiting pyschedelicians such as Pink Floyd. Soon Florence University was running a course on nightclub architecture and groovy hangouts where opening across Italy, from Turin to Rimini. All were pretty much defunct by the mid-70s though.
On December 16, to tie-in with the exhibition, Manchester-based designer Ben Kelly, the exhibition’s co-curator Catharine Rossi and others will discuss the relationship between architecture, design and nightlife.
The exhibition looks at remarkable series of discothèques designed by architects such as Gruppo 9999, Superstudio and UFO who rallied under the Radical Design banner. Pictured: side elevation of Piper club, 1965. Courtesy of 3c+t Fabrizio Capolei, Pino Abbrescia e Fabio Santinelli
Architects saw the nightclub had a political purpose as a new kind of multi-disciplinary space, socially and architecturally radical. Photography: Ben Westoby
One of the 'venues' included is Piper, Turin, (pictured here) which became famous for its stage and audio-visual system designed by Pietro Derossi, Giorgio Ceretti and Riccardo Rosso, 1966. Photography courtesy of Pietro Derossi
Pipers became a generic terms for similar clubs that opened in its wake. Photography: Ben Westoby
Reconfigurable furniture, advanced (for the time) audio-visual technology and art from Piero Manzoni and Andy Warhol and stages for visiting pyschedelicians such as Pink Floyd were all mandatory elements. Pictured: Space Electronic, by Gruppo 9999 and Superstudio. Courtesy of Gruppo 9999 and Carlo Caldini
The exhibition uses film, photographs, music and architectural drawings to tell the story of Italian nightlife. Photography: Ben Westoby
New York's Studio 54 is famous the world over for its raucous events, but the Italians took to nightclubbing with equal fervor. Photography: Ben Westoby
The exhibition covers the decade up to 1975, when clubs were more hippy hangouts and place for 'happenings' than glitter-balled boogie zones. Pictured: UFO, amphibious camels returning to Africa, Bamba Issa, Forte dei Marmi, 1969. Photography: Carlo Bachi. Courtesy of UFO Archive
INFORMATION
'Radical Disco: Architecture and Nightlife in Italy, 1965-1975' is on show at the ICA's Fox Reading Room until 10 January 2016. For more information visit the ICA website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
All-In is the Paris-based label making full-force fashion for main character dressing
Part of our monthly Uprising series, Wallpaper* meets Benjamin Barron and Bror August Vestbø of All-In, the LVMH Prize-nominated label which bases its collections on a riotous cast of characters – real and imagined
By Orla Brennan
-
Maserati joins forces with Giorgetti for a turbo-charged relationship
Announcing their marriage during Milan Design Week, the brands unveiled a collection, a car and a long term commitment
By Hugo Macdonald
-
Through an innovative new training program, Poltrona Frau aims to safeguard Italian craft
The heritage furniture manufacturer is training a new generation of leather artisans
By Cristina Kiran Piotti
-
‘You don't want space; you want to fill it’: Milan exhibition
Making its debut during Milan Design Week 2022 at Marsèll Paradise, a new exhibition by Matylda Krzykowski, explores how we approach the space we live in (until 15 July 2022)
By Cristina Kiran Piotti
-
Kohler and Daniel Arsham brought experiential art to Milan Design Week
Looking back on Daniel Arsham and Kohler’s Divided Layers installation, and the brand’s latest bathroom collection
By Simon Mills
-
Men’s mental health takes centre stage at an art and design exhibition by Tableau
‘Confessions’, which travels to Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design following its debut at Milan Design Week 2022, features commissioned work by 14 male artists, designers and architects, reflecting on toxic masculinity, vulnerability and mental health
By TF Chan
-
Recycled glass tiles by Studio Plastique, Snøhetta and Fornace Brioni launch in Milan
The ‘Forite’ tile collection, which upcycles glass components from discarded fridges, ovens and microwaves, launches with an exhibition at Alcova during Milan Design Week 2022
By TF Chan
-
Hermès’ annual Milan Design Week spectacle is inspired by brutalist water towers
Bringing colour and lightness to Fuorisalone 2022, Hermès’ installation at La Pelota conceals the maison’s latest collections of furniture, accessories and lighting
By Rosa Bertoli
-
Alcova: wellbeing, cultural identity and the environment in focus at Milan Design Week 2022
In its fourth edition during Milan Design Week 2022, Alcova brings together a diverse group of designers and brands curated by Valentina Ciuffi and Joseph Grima
By Sujata Burman
-
New Giorgetti furniture balances beauty and functionality
New Giorgetti furniture, revealed at Salone del Mobile 2022 and photographed here at the rationalist Castrocaro Terme, is perfectly poised between beauty and functionality
By Rosa Bertoli
-
Philippe Starck reinterprets Dior’s Louis XVI Medallion chair in Milan
Dior has commissioned Philippe Starck to put a contemporary twist on a classic piece of seating for Milan Design Week 2022, complete with an immersive installation at Palazzo Citterio
By TF Chan