Brera, Poltrona Frau, 1958
©Foto Massimo Listri
Guglielmo Ulrich (Milan 1904-1977)
Ulrich studied at the Brera Academy, and later obtained a degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan. In 1930, he made his debut at the Monza Triennale and founded Ar.Ca. He completed dozens of residential projects, including the homes of Agnelli, Pirelli and Luchino Visconti. He took part in the Milan Triennale in 1933 and 1936, designing refined interiors. Between 1936 and 1940, he was involved in drawing up zoning plans for a number of cities in the Italian colonies in East Africa, including Addis Ababa. He co-directed Domus with Melchiorre Bega from 1942 to 1943. In 1947, he served as art director of Singleton in Milan. He authored Arredatori contemporanei (Contemporary Furniture Designers) in 1948 and Arredamento, mobili e oggetti di arte decorativa (Interior Design, Furniture and Decorative Art Objects) in 1949, both published by Görlich. In 1953, he was involved in developing the regulatory plan for Madonna di Campiglio. Aside from residential projects, his architectural works include: Palazzo Argentina with Piero Bottoni, the buildings in Via dell’Annunciata, Via Fatebenefratelli and Viale Vittorio Veneto, and the restoration of Palazzo Tarsis, all in Milan; the INA buildings in Pavia, the SIAE offices on the Grand Canal in Venice, and the Alleanza Assicurazioni offices in Como. His interior design projects include the Galtrucco, Picowa, Pica and Radaelli stores, and work on the transatlantic Andrea Doria and the Cristoforo Colombo turbine ship. His design objects include a seat that won an award at the International Fair in Trieste in 1961. His drawings can be found at the University of Parma and the Metropolitan in New York.
“It was very unusual to hear my father talk about his work. He did not trust words very much; he’d rather express himself through drawing. Therefore, I have nothing particular to say about this bench. It may be interesting to mention that, in that year, he made over 250 furniture designs. Except for Sundays and summer holidays, that’s almost one a day.” (Giancorrado Ulrich)