Born on January 1, 1935 in Venice, Italy, Scarpa studied architecture at the Università Iuav di Venezia, graduating in 1957. After graduating, he began working with his wife and collaborator Afra Scarpa, with whom he produced numerous important designs.

Scarpa has designed for many Italian and international firms, including B&B Italia, Flos, Benetton clothing, and Fabbian. The designer’s career has been long and prolific, filled with significant honors, including the Compasso d'Oro Award in 1969 and The International Forum Design Hanover Award in 1992. His works are included in the collections of cultural institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Scarpa currently lives and works in Venice, Italy.