Ludovico, or Vico as he is most known, Magistretti studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano from 1939 to -45. After graduation, Magistretti joined the Milan architectural studio of his father, Pier Giulio Magistretti.
In 1947 Magistretti made his debut as a furniture designer at the Milan Triennale and began the construction of the Milan church Santa Maria Nascente together with Mario Tedeschi that was finalized in 1955. One year later Magistretti was one of the founders of the Italian Association for Industrial Design (ADI) and designed the Carimate chair for Cassina.
In 1966 Magistretti designed the sculptural floor lamp Chimera, made of folded plastic which in 1969 was followed by the plastic chair Selene both for Artemide. For the sofa Maralunga for Cassina, design in 1973 with a flexible back and headrest, Magistratti was awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1979. Two years later he created the armchair Sinbad, also for Cassina, that was innovative with its removable upholstery.
In 1983 Magistratti was made honorary member of the Royal College of Art in London and designed the Veranda armchair for Cassina, with a transformable back, head and leg rest for varible sitting positions. In 1995 Magistretti was awarded the Compasso d’Oro for lifetime achievement award and seven years later he was given an honorary degree in industrial design from the Politecnico di Milano.
In 2003, three years before his death Magistretti was honored with the retrospective exhibition Vico Magistretti il design dagli anni cinquanta a oggi at Palazzo Ducale in Genoa.
