"The object I'm most proud of? The 1968 differential switch. Can you believe it? I've entered everyone's house".

Achille Castiglioni

The legendary 450, produced by VLM of Buccinasco at the time, was born over 50 years ago through the pencil of one of the greatest protagonists of Italian design, winner of nine Compasso d'oro awards.

The click sound of its operation has entered the collective imagination, as this small yet significant object has been produced in over 25 million units. Perhaps, at night, all it takes is to run your fingers over the soft textures of our textile cables and reach out to its unmistakable shapes to return, automatically seeking the cursor, to the unconscious repetition of a gesture that smells of memory and beauty.

But the 450 is not the only switch designed by Achille and Pier Giorgio Castiglioni. It has two "big brothers" designed for floor and table lamps: the 661 and the 662.

You may remember them at the base of the iconic "Arco" by Flos, also designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni or the "Ettore" by E. Gismondi for Artemide, Stylos and Aoy created by Castiglioni for Flos, Brumbury by Luigi Massoni for Guzzini.

Thank you for the help at the Achille Castiglioni Foundation.

The Foundation values, protects, and makes public all the material that constitutes a testimony to the cultural, artistic, professional, and human activity of Achille Castiglioni. Guided tours are offered by reservation at Piazza Castello 27 in Milan, the location of Castiglioni's historic studio where the design process he used to realize his projects is revealed through temporary exhibitions.

And finally (and, why not, to have a little fun in this strange period), let's not forget that, even though our products don't feature an inaccessible icon like the Ark, in our little world we have instead an Archet(To), designed, through a strange play of intersections, also by an Achille (Novarino).