Osvaldo Borsani was one of the great masters of Italian design, known for blending elegance, ingenuity, and vision. Born in Varedo into a family of wood craftsmen, he grew up immersed in a culture of making. After graduating in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano, he began a path that would redefine the way we think about and live in our spaces.
In 1953, together with his brother Fulgenzio, he founded Tecno, a company that quickly became a symbol of forward-thinking design rooted in artisanal quality. His creations — such as the P40 reclining chair and the D70 sofa — became true icons: smart, transformable, highly functional, and always refined.
Alongside his design work, Borsani also developed a number of architectural projects, including private villas, offices, and exhibition spaces — often conceived as complete environments where furniture and architecture seamlessly merge. This holistic approach gave rise to a distinctive and coherent design language.
Borsani also built meaningful bridges between design and art, collaborating with figures such as Lucio Fontana, Gio Ponti, and Arnaldo Pomodoro, bringing a poetic and experimental spirit into his work. His legacy is a timeless balance of technical innovation and aesthetic beauty, and it continues to inspire generations of designers around the world.
Tecno press campaign, armchair/chaise longue P40 by Osvaldo Borsani, project 1957. - Casa Borsani, Varedo, a jewel of Italian architecture, 1939. - Triennale Milano, exhibition of Osvaldo Borsani, curated by Norman Foster and Tommaso Fantoni, Borsani's nephew. The exhibition features over three hundred objects by Borsani, 16 May 2018.