De Padova srl

Informazioni Generali

A leading name in Italian design, De Padova was founded in Milan in the 1950s by Fernando and Maddalena De Padova. De Padova was the first
company to introduce Northern European design to Italy, thus establishing it as a household name and pioneer of design.

The same values championed by Fernando and Maddalena over 50 years ago are still at the heart of the company today. The De Padova collection draws inspiration from the great design classics, from an appreciation of fine craftsmanship, and from a combination of extensive research and innovation.

De Padova has always been at the fore of contemporary furniture design.
In the 1960s, Maddalena De Padova acquired a license from American company Herman Miller to produce and distribute designs by Charles
Eames and George Nelson in Italy. ICF De Padova—situated in Vimodrone, near Milan—was created in order to facilitate the production of the office furniture. Naturally, the philosophies of the American designers shaped the De Padova design ethos—predominantly the importance of environmental context, of creating connections, and achieving a marriage between pioneering technology and the everyday object. The 1960s also saw the opening of the De Padova showroom at Corso Venezia, 14 in Milan.
The large space allowed for the furnishings and accessories created by ICF De Padova to be displayed, and also served as a platform for emerging young designers such as Ingo Maurer.

Throughout the 1970s, De Padova continued to produce pieces from Herman Miller, alongside iconic designs such as the Sofabank by Rolf Heide, the PLR chair by Ross Littell, and the Interparete by Herbert Hirche. This period also saw the beginning of De Padova’s collaboration with Vico Magistretti, who designed a collection of office furniture for the company.

During the 1980s, Maddalena De Padova sold ICF and launched her own line of furniture and objects under the De Padova trademark. This new production model allowed for a wider variety of products, free from the constrictions of industrial manufacturing. ‘Edizioni De Padova,’ which later became ‘è De Padova,’ produced a collection by distinguished designers such as
Achille Castiglioni, Vico Magistretti, and Dieter Rams and distributed them internationally.
The 1990s saw De Padova introduce a radical collection of office furniture, which completely redefined the traditional concept of workspace
and furnishings. During this period, the company expanded further into the contract sector, working with Renzo Piano on the Centre Georges Pompidou café in Paris, and later, the Morgan Library’s restaurant in New York, and the headquarters of Milan’s Sole24Ore newspaper.

The following years marked the company’s continued research and development through collaborations with well-known international
designers as well as young, emerging designers such as Patricia Urquiola and the Japanese designer, Nendo.

The 2000s saw Maddalena De Padova pass the helm of the company to her children, Luca and Valeria, with Luca later being appointed CEO
of De Padova in 2013. During this time, he focused on initiating relationships and collaborations with both emerging and renowned designers, investing company resources in the development of new products, and establishing
the De Padova brand in foreign markets.

In April 2015, the company was acquired by Boffi. Roberto Gavazzi, CEO of Boffi, became CEO of De Padova. Luca De Padova became an important shareholder in Boffi, President of De Padova, and Vice President of Boffi. The union of De Padova and Boffi will allow the companies to collaborate on an international joint distribution program, with their shared passion and Italian heritage, making the companies leaders in contemporary furniture design.