Paolo Rizzatto was born in Milan, Italy in 1941. He graduated in architecture from the Milan Polytechnic in 1965.
In his studio he worked as a freelancer in the field of architecture, design and interior design and continued to develop his experience as interior lighting designer.
In 1978 Rizzatto together with Riccardo Sarfatti founded Luceplan.
His architecture works include:
• Daycare center in Segrate (Milan), 1972
• Single family vacation home in Formentera (Baleares), 1973
• Residential quarter in Feltre (Belluno), 1974
• Suburban home in Bazzano(Bologna), 1976
• Double family Housing in Montesiro (Milano), 1985
• Home for elderly in Galliate (Novara), 1986
• Luceplan Factory and Headquarters in Milano, 1997
Paolo Rizzatto has collaborated with numerous companies, such as Arteluce, Artemide, Luceplan, Alias, Cassina, Nemo, Molteni, Knoll, Kartell, Philips, Montina, Thonet, Mandarina Duck, Guzzini, Lensvelt.
He taught at various University Institutes: Università degli studi Abruzzese in Pescara, Columbia University in New York, Milan Polytecnic, Cranbrook Center in Detroit, Washington University in Saint Louis, Architecture Institute in Moscou, Architects Association in Saint Petersburg.
Paolo Rizzatto's works have been published in magazines, catalogues and books in Italy and abroad.
His objects have been shown at seminars and exhibitions of architecture and design and are included in the permanant collections of numerous foundations and museums: Architectural Associations in London, Milan Triennale, Wave Hill Museum Center in New York, Museum of Modern Art in New York, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, "Halogen-20 jahre neues Licht" Durangewandte Kunst Museum in Cologne, "Capitales Européennes du nouveau design" Centre Pompidou in Paris, "Tecniques Discretes" Musée des Arts Decoratifs at the Louvre in Paris, "Mutants Materials" at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
He has been awarded numerous prizes, as three "Compasso d'oro" prizes in 1981, 1989, 1995
La Lampe d'Argent Sil/Paris 1988
La Lampe d'Or Sil/Paris 1990
Design Plus Ambiente/Frankfurt 1992
Product Award Lighting Fair/New York 1992
Red Dot Award Design Innovations'94/Essen 1994
Industrie Forum Design Prize/Hannover 1996
"Good Design" Award Chicago Athenaeum Museum/ Chicago 1999