Gio Ponti was one of the most influential architects and designers of the 20th century. He created more than 100 buildings in Europe, America, Asia and Africa, including the famous Pirelli skyscraper in Milan, the Villa Planchart in Caracas and the Cathedral of Taranto. He also designed furniture, ceramics, glass, textiles and magazines, such as the legendary Domus, which he founded in 1928 and directed until his death in 1979.
Ponti was born in Milan in 1891 and studied architecture at the Polytechnic of his native city. After World War I, in which he participated as a soldier, he began his career as an architect in the office of Emilio Lancia and Mino Fiocchi. He also worked as artistic director for the Richard Ginori porcelain factory, where he influenced the style of Italian Art Deco. His first buildings of his own were the Bouilhet House in Garches (1926) and the Anselmi House in Monza (1927), both influenced by the classical tradition and rationalism.
In the 1930s, Ponti developed a personal style that combined elements of modernism with a sensitivity to local culture and craftsmanship. He built homes, offices, factories, schools, and churches in Italy and abroad, such as the Rasini House in Milan (1933), the Institute of Mathematics in Rome (1934), the Livy House in Caracas (1935), and the Church of San Francesco in Piacenza (1938). He also designed furniture for his own projects and for prestigious companies such as Cassina, Fontana Arte and Venini.
After World War II, Ponti dedicated himself to promoting Italian architecture and design on the international stage. He organized exhibitions, conferences and competitions, wrote books and articles and taught at various universities. He also experimented with new materials and techniques, such as the reinforced concrete, the aluminum and the glass. His most important works from this period include the Pirelli skyscraper in Milan (1956), the first skyscraper in Italy; the Villa Planchart in Caracas (1957), a masterpiece of tropical architecture; the Cathedral of Taranto (1970), a monumental sculpture in concrete and glass; and the Denver Art Museum (1971), his last project.
Ponti died in Milan in 1979 at the age of 87. He left a rich legacy of buildings, objects, and ideas that continue to inspire architecture and design today. He was a master of modernism, always striving for beauty, harmony and humanity.