Ettore Sottsass Quotes

“I make no special difference between architecture and design, they are two different stages of invention.”

— Ettore Sottsass

“My furniture is an exercise in architecture or architectural mood.”

— Ettore Sottsass

“When I began designing machines I also began to think that these objects, which sit next to each other and around people, can influence not only physical conditions but also emotions. They can touch the nerves, the blood, the muscles, the eyes and the moods of people.”

— Ettore Sottsass

“When I was young, all we ever heard about was functionalism, functionalism, functionalism. It's not enough. Design should also be sensual and exciting.”

— Ettore Sottsass

“A chair must be really important as an object, because my mother always told me to offer my chair to a lady”

— Ettore Sottsass

“If you think you're meeting your destiny on the other side of a door you may not be interested in its design.”

— Ettore Sottsass

“Decoration can be a state of mind, an unusual perception, a ritual whisper.”

— Ettore Sottsass

“I try and be as stupid as possible regarding my profession, which means I try to look at as few design magazines as possible.”

— Ettore Sottsass

It is important to realize that whatever we do or design has iconographic references, it comes from somewhere; any form is always metaphorical, never totally metaphysical; it is never a 'destiny' but always a fact with some kind of historical reference. To put an object on a base means to monumentalize it, to make everyone aware it exists.

— Ettore Sottsass

“There is no doubt something will be done sooner or later to enable us to put on a house every day, just as we put on clothes or choose a book to read or a theater to go to, like choosing a day to be lived, within the limits grated by other destinies or chances.”

— Ettore Sottsass

“Be patient, calm, compassionate. Know that existence is fleeting.”

— Ettore Sottsass