When they designed the interior of St. Peter’s Church in New York City, Lella and Massimo Vignelli applied their signature approach of paring away everything but the essentials to arrive at the simplest possible solution. That simplicity is most evident in the design of the altar, which is made of three massive blocks of laminated wood. When asked why the altar is so thick, Lella said, “It’s God’s table. It has to have some power!” The design became a motif throughout the church’s interior, applied to benches and even pews. The pleasing proportions of the altar can also be found in the Vignelli Bench (2005), which Lella and Massimo created for use in their own home. Consistent wall thickness and stress-free outer corners give the bench exceptional durability, making it suitable for residential or commercial use, indoors or out. Made in U.S.A.
Massimo and Lella Vignelli Italy (1931–2014, 1934–)
Massimo and Lella Vignelli were raised and educated in Italy, but they made their most significant contributions to design while working and living in the United States, where their work is seen daily by millions of Americans.
They were born just 250 miles apart in Northern Italy, Lella in Udine into a family of architects, and Massimo in Milan, where he developed a fascination early on for the citys architecture. They met while studying architecture at the University of Venice and married in 1957. Both went on to further study and work in the United States and they founded Vignelli Associates in 1972. Read more >