Italian architect and designer Andrea Branzi (1938–2023) was one of the leading theorists of radical Italian architecture. In 1966, he took part in the founding of the avant-garde architecture group Archizoom Associati, of which he remained a member until its dissolution in 1974. The Archizoom collective was known for its utopian and critical urban projects, such as the concept of an endless city, No-Stop City, and joined numerous exhibitions worldwide, including Superarchitettura (Galleria Jolly 2, Pistoia, 1966) and Italy: The New Domestic Landscape at the Museum of Modern Art (New York, 1972). Archizoom also presented innovative projects at Triennale Milano, including the installation Centro di Cospirazione Eclettica (1968) and the movies Come è fatto il cappotto di Gogol and Vestirsi è facile (1973).In 1973, Andrea Branzi settled in Milan. With Studio Alchimia (1976) and then the Memphis Group (1981), founded by Ettore Sottsass, he helped introduce bright colors and eccentric forms into design, breaking away from the Bauhaus principles that promoted functionalism and minimalism. Throughout his career, he worked in industrial design, architecture, urban planning, cultural promotion, and education and he collaborated with major Italian brands: Alessi, Cassina, Zanotta, Poltronova, Olivari, Danese, Magis, and Kartell. A professor at Politecnico di Milano, Andrea Branzi co-founded the Domus Academy in 1983, the first international postgraduate design school.Andrea Branzi was a regular contributor to the radical architecture magazine Casabella. He also wrote numerous books on the history and theory of design, including The Hot House: Italian New Wave (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1986) and Weak and Diffuse Modernity: The World of Projects at the Beginning of the 21st Century (Milan: Skira, 2006). In 1994, he was awarded the Compasso d’Oro, the most prestigious Italian design prize, in recognition of his lifetime achievements. In 2008, he received the honorary award Laurea Honoris Causa in industrial design from La Sapienza University of Rome. That year, he also became Royal Designer for Industry of the London Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).