Milan Homes of Legendary Architect Gio Ponti

Gio Ponti’s Residence in Via Dezza, Milan. Images courtesy of Gio Ponti Archives.

Born in Milan, Italy in 1891, Gio Ponti is considered to be one of the most famous and influential architects of the 20th century, having revolutionised the worlds of architecture and design during his prolific career.

After serving his country in WWI, Ponti went on to earn a degree in architecture, before taking on a job as creative director for a ceramics company, prior to pursuing his architecture career. This decision to work in a ceramics company could well have influenced his career in architecture, never viewing architecture as “simply creating buildings”, but instead “he often conceived of the building’s interior as well” – from the furniture to appliances and ceramics to glassware. Hallelujah!

When not designing buildings, Ponti lectured at universities, hoping to inspire future generations of architects from around the world. He also had a role in publishing, providing the inspiration behind two prestigious art & design magazines, and also working as a magazine editor and writer.

As a designer, Ponti worked for 120 companies. As an architect, he built in 13 countries. As a magazine editor, he contributed to 560 issues writing at least one article for each. As an academic, he lectured in 24 countries. In his spare time, he dictated some 2,500 letters and drew 2,000 illustrated letters, not to mention dabbled in painting and poetry.

Based on the photographic materials from the study of her father when working on the book, ‘Gio Ponti, l’opera by Lisa Ponti’, Ponti’s daughter, with the inclusion of photos, profiling and data carried out by Salvatore Licitra from 1996 onwards, curated the ‘Gio Ponti Archives‘. The ‘Archives’, located in premises that Ponti designed, a building which also housed his offices and was where he resided in Milan, are intended to provide an adequate account of Ponti’s work and achievement – for his many engagements throughout his career – from architecture to product design and from communication to art.

Ponti died in 1979 at the age of 87, and as Alice Rawsthorn aptly states in a New York Times article, he “emerged as one of the most influential Italian architects and designers of the 20th century, whose Pirelli Tower still soars above his native Milan. His work was unusually eclectic, reflecting the diverse, often conflicting, styles and ideologies with which he experimented over the years. He is remembered as an artist, architect, writer, innovator, painter, poet, and professor. His unique designs still have relevance today, as the originals are considered valuable collectors items and some creations are continually re-issued by various manufacturers. His legacy is one which spans two centuries, and will certainly continue to influence artists and designers well into the future.”