Paolo Piva, the Venetian architect at B&B Italia

Paolo Piva (1950-2017) is an Italian architect and designer whose career was split between Veneto, Vienna and Milan. Trained at the IUAV in Venice with Carlo Scarpa, he signed from the 1980s for B&B Italia, Wittmann, Poltrona Frau and Maxalto furniture of warm architectural rigour: Alanda sofa (1981), Onda armchair, Africa table for Maxalto. With his master Scarpa, he extended the idea that furniture is first an architects' affair, and that a seat is conceived like a building.

The Alanda sofa B&B Italia and Africa Maxalto table remain Paolo Piva's signature pieces. Italian vintage furniture to find for those wanting a discreet but deeply architectural Venetian signature.