Designed in 1961 by Titina Ammannati & Giampiero Vitelli for Rossi di Albizzate, the Denise armchair strikes a perfect balance between structural rigor and soft, welcoming forms. Its solid wooden base, well-proportioned and sturdy, contrasts elegantly with the upholstered seat, characterized by smooth, enveloping lines. The interplay of warm materials and inviting shapes is a hallmark of the duo’s design language, which in this piece fully expresses their focus on comfort, artisanal quality, and refined construction details. A rare and sophisticated example of early 1960s Italian design.
Titina Ammannati (1928–2016) and Giampiero Vitelli (1932–2022) were an Italian couple of architects and designers whose work profoundly influenced the history of design in the second half of the twentieth century. Active from 1961, they collaborated for over five decades, consistently exploring innovative approaches to architecture, restoration and, above all, furniture design.Vitelli began his career at a very young age, quickly distinguishing himself through an experimental approach to materials and manufacturing technologies. Together, Ammannati and Vitelli developed projects that brought form and function together in original ways, with a strong focus on modularity and craftsmanship.They collaborated with numerous Italian and international manufacturers: with Rossi di Albizzate until 1970, then with Brunati in Alzate Brianza, for whom they also designed the company headquarters, and, from 1988 onwards, with i 4 Mariani, creating upholstered furniture such as the Up & Down electric sofa (1999). Their design language, always attentive to the balance between aesthetics and functionality, anticipated many themes of contemporary design, particularly flexibility in the way we inhabit living spaces. In 2025, the exhibition Living the Space 1955–2025 celebrated their long careers, reaffirming the significance of their contribution to Italian design culture.