heritage

The success of a Made in Italy brand

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The history

The design of Brionvega

In the 1950s in Milan, during the reconstruction and the beginning of the economic boom, Giuseppe Brion, after gaining experience at Phonola and Radiomarelli, founded the company B.P.M. in 1945 with engineer Pajetta, starting the production of electrical and electronic components. In the 1950s, the company evolved into Vega B.P. Radio, focusing on products that combined technological innovation and design. With the acquisition of Homelight’s television production and the new name Radio Vega Televisione, Brion, together with his family, dedicated himself to perfecting the products.

In the 1960s, the company, now Brionvega, emerged in the design scene with innovative models such as the Doney TV (1962), the first portable transistor TV in Europe, and the Algol TV (1964). Brionvega introduced design as an element of domestic integration, with items like the TS502 radiocubo (1964) and the RR126 radiofonografo (1965).

In the 1970s, under the leadership of Mario Bellini and the recognition of the Compasso d’Oro, Brionvega continued to innovate with projects such as the Concetto 101 phono amplifier (1974) and the AX3500 amplifier (1978). The renovation of the headquarters and the construction of the Brinel plant marked the company’s expansion.

In the 1980s, Brionvega faced the global market, collaborating with Sottsass Associati and Lucci & Orlandini to create innovative televisions such as the Memphis I TV (1980) and the Coro Pansound (1983). Mario Bellini designed the company’s last televisions in the 1990s.

Awards

Innovation and design in museums around the world

Brionvega received the Compasso d’Oro in 1963 for the Doney television and in 1970 for its overall production. The Doney 14”, the only television exhibited at the Good Design show in Paris (1964), received the Grand International Prize at the XIII Triennale di Milano (1965) and is on permanent display at the MoMA in New York and in São Paulo.

The Algol won the gold medal at the II Ljubljana Biennale (1965) and is exhibited at MoMA, in São Paulo, and at the Museum of Hamburg. The TS502 “radiocubo,” awarded at the Ljubljana Biennale and with Germany’s Gute Form award, is exhibited at MoMA, in Osaka, and in California.

The radiofonografo, the radiocubo, and the totem are displayed in major modern art museums, such as MoMA and the V&A Museum.30 are showcased in major modern art museums, including those in Denver and MoMA.

1960s

In the 1960s, Italian design gained international prestige, challenging the dominance of Scandinavian design, which had responded to the need for post-war security. Italian design stood out for its adoption of new production methods and innovative materials, such as plastics, valued for their qualities like durability and wide range of colors.

The economic boom brought Italy into closer contact with new technologies. Brionvega, collaborating with prominent designers such as Rodolfo Bonetto, Marco Zanuso, Richard Sapper, and the Castiglioni brothers, revolutionized the market with products that combined design and functionality, such as the Orion TV (1961), the Doney (1962), and the Algol TV (1964).

The Black ST 201 TV (1969) represented a new type of compact television, designed as a piece of furniture. The TS502 radiocubo (1964) by Zanuso and Sapper, exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, is an example of how design evolved toward design objects rather than mere devices.

Other iconic products from those years include the OFV1014 portable record player (1965), the FD1102 wire radio system (1969), and the RR126 radiofonografo (1965) by the Castiglioni brothers, characterized by its modular and innovative design. This period marked a phase of great innovation and experimentation in Italian design.

Algol TV

RR127

TS502

RR126

1970s

At the end of the 1970s, the economic crisis and generational conflict led to a period of reflection in design. Young designers, influenced by Pop Art, rejected traditional “beautiful design” and sought a decisive break. This rebellion lasted only a few years, and by 1972, during the “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” exhibition at MoMA in New York, the new creations were already being showcased alongside design classics.

In 1970, Brionvega received the Compasso d’Oro for production, solidifying its European reputation. The Milan headquarters were renovated, and the BRINEL plant was inaugurated in Caselle d’Asolo. The collaboration with Mario Bellini led to the creation of televisions and Hi-Fi systems with innovative shapes, such as the RR130 Totem (1970), and other iconic models like the Pally 18” TV (1974) and the Soundbook (1974).

In the following years, Brionvega continued to innovate with models such as the Righel 15” TV (1974), the Spot 15” (1978), and the high-fidelity AX3500 and TXS1000 (1978), emphasizing advanced technology and design. The TS505 radiocubo by Zanuso and Sapper (1977) represents the last example of this evolution.

Volans TV

The Volans TV by Brionvega, designed by Mario Bellini in the early 1970s, is characterized by its triangular, compact shape that combines futuristic aesthetics with functionality. Its distinctive design and lightweight structure make it an elegant and innovative piece of furniture.

RR130

The Brionvega RR130 totem, designed by Mario Bellini in 1970, is a stereo system with sculptural and modular lines. With its distinctive cubic shape, it combines elegant design with high-quality audio, representing an outstanding example of 1970s design and technology.

TS505

In 1970, the second version of the TS502 was launched. It featured a wider range of colors and a new telescopic antenna with a pivot at the base. Additionally, two 3.5 mm jack ports were added: one for external power and one for headphones. The iconic radiocubo evolved.

Monitor 15” TV

The Monitor 15” TV by Brionvega, designed by Mario Bellini in 1978, is a compact and refined television with a 15-inch display. It features an elegant and minimalist design with a curved laminate casing, combining high visual quality with seamless integration into modern interiors.

1980s and 1990s

In the 1980s, Italian design underwent a transformation with the emergence of Alchimia and the Memphis group, which revolutionized the scene with bold shapes and vibrant colors. Ettore Sottsass and Brionvega collaborated to create the Memphis I television, while Marco Zanuso updated the Algol 11” TV with a colorful design. Mario Bellini, along with designers Lucci and Orlandini, produced innovative models such as the Led 20” TV, the Coro Pansound, and the Sintesi, characterized by advanced technical features.

In the 1990s, the collaboration between Brionvega and Bellini led to the creation of iconic models such as the Best 15” TV, the Quadro 25”, and the Glass Cube. These televisions stood out for their distinctive design and technological innovations, such as the enhanced back of the Best and the glass casing of the Glass Cube, reflecting a design philosophy that celebrated the visibility and aesthetic impact of objects.

Memphis TV

Algol 11” TV

Cubo Glass

Quadro 25” TV

Brionvega today

Today, Brionvega stands as a guardian of a rich tradition, renewing its commitment to excellence with determination. The company has reorganized its technical and design departments, developed research and training for skilled artisans, and revamped its marketing structure. All collaborators share a deep passion for the ART PRODUCTS of BRIONVEGA.

The group was founded with the goal of reviving and restoring prestige to iconic pieces of Italian design—hidden gems that contemporary taste longs for. We have chosen the most complex products from BRIONVEGA and the entire Italian landscape of that era, a time when Italy “dominated this world with the extraordinary mix of skilled artisans and great industry patrons.”

Thus, we have created a company dedicated to managing the historical heritage and future developments of the Brionvega brand. After more than sixty years, Brionvega continues to shine like a star in the firmament of Italian design, true to the luminous name it carries.

radiofonografo

The radiofonografo by the Castiglioni brothers is a work of art that conceals a secret in the movement of its volumes and the modular configurations of the monitors. Its design, both spatial and familiar, makes it an ever-new object, capable of evoking admiration even after 50 years. With a playful concept, it invites a playful and intimate approach, becoming an icon of great design.

radio.cubo

The TS502 radiocubo by Zanuso and Sapper is Brionvega’s iconic pop radio. Quickly becoming a cult object, it embodies the desire for rebellion, novelty, and color of the 1960s generation. Always beloved by creatives like David Bowie, it is now exhibited, among others, at MoMA in New York and the Museum of Modern Art in São Paulo.

totem

Signed in 1971, the Totem is a celebration of the primary and elemental forms that compose and regulate our physical world. An ode to geometric regularity, it is the result of a long meditation on form and function. A simple white cubic volume that opens and recomposes modularly into a sophisticated Hi-Fi listening machine, with two speakers that reveal the stereo module, radio, and turntable when opened.

Thus, Brionvega, after sixty years, continues to shine brightly in the sky of Italian design, like the brilliant star from which it takes its name.

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