Gae Aulenti lighting

Gae Aulenti 1927–2012

Gaetana Aulenti, or Gae Aulenti, as she is better known, was an Italian architect born in 1927 in the small municipality of Palazzolo dello Stella in north-eastern Italy. During her career, Aulenti would have a major influence on both the Italian and international design scenes through her analytical approach to design and architecture.

Gae Aulenti studies architecture at the famous Politenico di Milano University, where she graduates in 1954 as one of two women in a class of 20. After graduating, Aulenti begins her career as a freelance architect and designer. Her clients include Fiat, Pirelli, Knoll International, Poltronova, Louis Vuitton and Artemide, to name a few.

Gae Aulenti's career spans several fields of design and architecture. She also teaches for several years at the Politecnico di Milano and the Venice School of Architecture. She also works as a lecturer in Europe and North America.

Architecture and design objects

Throughout her career she has worked in a variety of areas including exhibition design, furniture design, graphic design, stage design, lighting design and interior design. In 1981, she was commissioned to transform the spectacular 1900 Beaux Arts Gare d'Orsay train station, designed by Victor Laloux, into a museum focusing on French art from 1848 to 1915. The museum would become known as the Musée d'Orsay and would be one of Gae Aulenti's most famous large-scale projects.

Gae Aulenti passes away in 2012, leaving behind over 200 buildings and several design classics. Pipistrello for Martinelli Luce, Tavolo con Ruote for FontanaArte and April for Zanotta are some of her most famous creations, which you can also find here at NO GA.