Italian designer Aldo Cibic draws inspiration for a Venice apartment from the city’s history as a colorful east-west crossroads.



Nearly 40 years ago, designer Aldo Cibic helped make history. Along with other founding members of the Memphis Group, a collaborative of Italian designers led by Ettore Sottsass that introduced postmodern flair to a range of furnishings and housewares, Cibic showed that the whimsy, color, and reconceptual nature of Pop art could be extended to interiors.

Aldo Cibic looks out from a small terrace just off the living room, with a sculpture by Ron Arad at right.

Photo: Filippo Bamberghi

Overlooking the Ognissanti and San Trovaso canals, the home enjoys panoramic views of perennially picturesque Venice.

Photo: Filippo Bamberghi

It’s no wonder, then, that a recent renovation by Cibic in Venice exhibits all of these qualities, even as the designer’s style has evolved. "What I love about the place is that it’s beyond one time or style," says Cibic, who was born in nearby Schio. "It’s about pleasure, comfort, and the way you move through the space." Make no mistake, though—while it may not be a postmodernist interior per se, it’s full of color and playfulness.

The apartment is located beside a 17th-century shipyard, where gondolas and other small boats are built and repaired. It is one of the very few still operating in the city.

Photo: Filippo Bamberghi

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Venice Penthouse Showcases Matchless Views and a Legendary Designer’s Evolution
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