Giustini / Stagetti

Roberto Menghi was born in Milan on January 14, 1920.

He graduated in Architecture from the Politecnico di Milano in 1944.

During the Second World War, he served as a lieutenant. After the armistice, he was captured and deported to a Nazi concentration camp for refusing to support the newly established Italian Social Republic (RSI).

Following the war, he opened his first design studio in Milan.

Throughout his architectural career, Menghi designed residential, commercial, and institutional buildings. He also oversaw the restoration of important historic buildings—always with a deep respect for their aesthetic and historical value—such as the Palazzo dei Giureconsulti in Milan.

In the fields of interior and industrial design, he focused particularly on innovative lighting and furniture, collaborating with leading companies such as FontanaArte.

Over the years, he received numerous awards, including two Grand Prizes in the Glass and Design sections at the Milan Triennale and a Compasso d’Oro for design.

Menghi also taught architecture and design at the IUAV University of Venice and at the Bath Academy of Art in the United Kingdom.

He passed away in Milan on April 20, 2006.

Today, the Centre for Studies and Communication Archives (CSAC) in Parma houses a publicly accessible archive dedicated to his work, which includes drawings, models, and design objects.