Two shells

The friendly object and life companion: the radio.cubo Brionvega.

In the early 1960s Brionvega began collaborating with Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper who would be collaborators and friends of Brionvega and the owner family for many years.
Many objects were born from this extraordinary collaboration and among many extraordinary objects the most “famous” known and cited in many design texts and exhibited in museums around the world is probably the radio.cubo or TS502 which has been in production for over 60 years.

The radio.cubo has become a cult object, a symbol of freedom, a desire for change and a colourful, cheerful life. Many features have played a part in making it so iconic: its original design, ease of use, ergonomics, vibrant colours and iridescent shape. Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper conceived a timeless object with beauty and originality that has enchanted people of all ages and backgrounds all over the world.

Launched in 1964, the radio.cubo was immediately hailed as a revolutionary object, no longer grey but coloured and with an original shape: a parallelepiped with rounded corners formed by two shells that open and close like a book. When open, the radio performs its normal function, with the loudspeaker on one side and the function controls on the other. When closed, it transforms into a sculptural object with sinuous contours and a polished surface, offering a captivating aesthetic even when turned off.

The designer duo carefully studied the choice of innovative materials. They opted for solutions such as plastic for the body and zamak metal alloy for the frame finishes.
This series of innovative choices was also made possible thanks to the foresight of Brionvega, which believed in its ability to create timeless objects by implementing completely new production processes, opting for raw materials that had never been used in its industry. This object’s intrinsic beauty also lies in its evocative appeal.
Looking at it, we often forget its main function as a radio, and see it as a discreet, minimalist piece of furniture. Yet, at the same time, it is capable of lending a touch of vitality to the room where it is placed.

The radio.cubo stands out for its portability thanks to its pull-out handle and battery slot.
The designers’ intention was to abandon the traditional idea of the radio as a static object, confined within a room intended for collective listening. Their intention was to create an object suitable for individual use, giving it maximum freedom in terms of mobility and customised use.
The portability of the radio.cubo is one of the key elements that make it an object with which you build a special relationship. This feature goes hand in hand with the lively colours and dynamic appeal of its aesthetic design.

Loyalty to Zanuso and Sapper’s original design has not prevented constant modernisation of the technology, which is extremely up-to-date thanks to DAB/DAB+ reception, a digital display, a new lithium battery and the Bluetooth function, which allows smartphones or other devices to be connected.

The radio.cubo has become even more coveted thanks to an exclusive collaboration with the American brand Supreme, which created an exclusive limited-edition restyling in 2022. As it did in 2018 with Emporio Armani, Brionvega is once again forging a connection with the fashion world.
The radio.cubo is still a timeless object, which is bound to retain its appeal for many decades, amplified and reinvigorated by its growing global popularity and the steadily increasing number of fans of its iconic design.