Work: Radio TS502

Description

“Of all the categories to which Italian genius was applied in the twentieth century, the radio can be considered the ultimate expression of architects’ most successful experimentation. They found greater freedom and autonomy working on a small object than in large-scale architectural projects,” notes Chiara Alessi.

Created by the visionary design duo Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper, the TS502 Radio was launched by Brionvega in 1964. It stands as one of the most iconic objects in Italian design history: a portable radio that has seamlessly updated its internal technology while preserving its original plastic outer casing for over fifty years.

When closed, the radio resembles a sleek, elongated capsule with rounded corners—measuring 13 cm high and 23 cm long—evoking the familiar shape of a loaf of sandwich bread. A double steel band wraps around its center, housing a release button that splits the radio into two equal, almost perfect cubes.

Connected by a central hinge, the two halves swing open up to 180 degrees, where hidden magnets lock them into place. The right cube features five tuning knobs on its inner face, while the left half houses the speaker, with the power switch and volume control nested at its center.

The “Radio Cubo” in our collection is crafted in vibrant orange plastic, displayed alongside a more recent black version. Every functional component is made of polished, mirrored steel: from the retractable handle and telescopic antenna to the central opening mechanism.

“For the TS502 Radio—the device that unfolds—Zanuso drew inspiration from the Swiss Movado watch, which could slide into a protective case and disappear; once pulled out, it revealed the time. This exact concept is echoed in the TS502: when closed, you would never guess it’s a radio,” recalls Ennio Brion.

Cubo radio – duration 1:06
Sonic evocation of the object created by Paolo Ferrario

Further information: Page dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Cubo Radio on the Brionvega website.