Swiss citizen was born in Bergamo in 1959.

Studied architecture at the Polytechnics of Milan, were he graduated in 1982. From 1983 to 1988 worked in the office of architect Mario Botta in Lugano, where he was responsible for projects, expositions and publications.
In 1988 opens his professional office in Casciago (Varese).

For his designs, in 1997 receives the “Design Preis Schweiz” award; in 1998 the “Compasso d’Oro” award, in 1999 the “Catas” award, in 2000 is awarded with the “Observeur du Design” and receives again in 2007 the “Catas” award for his works with M. Borghi.

In 1996 an exposition at Moebel et Function in Paris is dedicated to his works and the book “Esperienze di architettua e design”, about Riccardo Blumer professional life, is published by Skirà.
In 1999 the book ”Intersezioni” came out, curated by Gabriele Cappellato, about several interiors projects. The book is presented, the same year, during the exposition “Riccardo Blumer. Intersezioni” at the Swiss Culture Center in Milan.
In February of 2000, during the exposition created at the “Sala V. Carbonari” in Seriate (Bg), the book “Ultime realizzazioni: sperimentazione e professione” is presented, published by A.S.A.V., about all the projects done or finished during 1999.
Between 2000 and 2002 the chair “LaLegera” (produced by Alias) is shown around the world in the moving expositions “Compasso d’oro ADI Awad Italian Design from 1954 to 2001”, “Italian Design through a history of Compasso d’Oro ADI Award”, and “A Century of Design, Part IV: 1957-2001”. During 2006 is shown in the IOM Exhibition in London.
“LaLegera” is now part of the permanent collection of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, of the Centre George Pompidou in Paris and the Triennale in Milan; and is permanently shown at Cavalese Center of Contemporary Arts (Trento) and at the Museè d’Arts Dècoratifs di Parigi.

At the 2003 Salone del Mobile Riccardo Blumer presents, in collaboration with Alias, the “LimitEdition” chair in balsa wood and fibreglass, which is produced in limited 100 numbered and signed pieces.  This chair, published on Domus nr. 861, is shown at Berlin Modus during the exposition “Riccardo Blumer: Architetto e Designer” and, during the same period is presented through his works exhibitions at Munich and Paris.
In 2005 Compositori publishes two books of his: “Voglio Battere Robin Day. Indagine sul Processo evolutivo delle sedie di Riccardo Blumer“ and “Casa Isella”. The first book, curated by Gabriele Cappellato, analyses Riccardo Blumer research and design work; the second book shows the different phases of the recent intervention on Casa Isella, Varese, through the exceptional testimony of Italian philologist Dante Isella.
In January of 2006 the magazine “Interni” publishes his interventions at Teatro Alla Scala in Milan, realized during the restoration and enlargement works done on the same. In the same year Electa publishes the book “Dentro la Scala. Opere d’arredo di Riccardo Blumer”.

From the 80’s Riccardo Blumer didactic life is particularly related to “laSchola” Campus, an association for high school students with which he realizes projects on public areas, expositions of contemporary artists, meetings and conventions as a professor of the Campus until 2005.
In 1994 and 1996 is a member of the internationally jury at the Paris Ecole Superieure d’Arts Graphiques et d’Architecture; in 1998 works with Domus Academy and with the European Institute of Design in Milan.

In 1995-96 he collaborates as secretary of the Scientific Committee that supervises the creation of the Accademia di Architettura of the Università della Svizzera Italiana where, from 2002 to 2004, he teaches architectural planning.

In 2003 holds a workshop in the design faculty of IUAV in Treviso: “claDIS e impresa:il design come ricerca”.

In 2006 is responsible of a master for the Thonet enterprise at the Milan Polytechnics.

From 2006 he is back as teacher of architectural planning at the Accademia di Architettura, holds a laboratory for three-dimensional design fundaments at the Università degli Studi in S. Marino and furniture technology at the Istituto Superiore di Architettura di Interni (ISAID)  in Vicenza. His didactic work of 2007 is published on Domus nr. 907 and the magazine cover was dedicated to him.

At the 2007 Salone del mobile Riccardo Blumer presents four chairs, created with arch. Matteo Borghi, that represent his researches about structural resistance. With Desalto presents “Entronauta”, a chair of crease ribbed textile that is impregnated with structural polyurethane; with Poliform presents “BB”, an exoskeleton of leather hold in form by an internal mass of expanded polyurethane; with Ycami presents “Origami”, a reticular structure built of three aluminium plates cut, bent and mechanically bond; and with Sedie Friuli Fornasarig presents “Ditadidama”, a chair with a light core of low density Eps  veneered with a thin skin made of wood. This four chairs have been carefully described in the article “Interni” dedicated to him in the September 2007 publication.

Blumer has always been busy, aside of design and architecture, with the creation and set up of expositions (Triennale di Milano, Palazzo Ducale Genova, Museo Jac Chirac-Fr-), private and public furniture (Teatro alla Scala di Milano) and offices, covered in the aforementioned publications.

For his Architectural activities he is now completing works on a residential building in Saronno (MI) with curved plan and covered of customized Klinker, and a single house in Milan with walls made of glass bricks.

He often holds conferences about his work in Italy and foreign countries. The last series of conferences was characterized by exercises and small experiments that he usually does in his office, this events are explained in this website under the gym page.

Casciago, November 2007