Gio Ponti - Italy

Giovanni "Gị" Ponti (18.11.1891–16.09.1979) graduated in 1921 with a degree in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano. He was active not only als an architect,
but also as
industrial designer, furniture designer, artist, and publisher.

His architectural career started in partnership with Mino Fiocchi and Emilio Lancia, which lasted from 1923 through 1927. The partnership with Emilio Lancia
was active until 1933 under the name Studio Ponti e Lancia PL. In these early years he was influenced by and associated with the Milanese Novecento movement.
The professional relationship with Emilio Lancia ended around 1933, and Gio Poti joined forces with the two engineers Antonio Fornaroli and Eugenio Soncini,
to form Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Soncini. Until 1945 the worked successfully togehter, building a new headquarters for the Italian chemical firm Montecatini,
as well as other industrial and university buildings, offices for Fiat, and the Palazzo del Liviano for the University of Padua in which Ponti himself painted frescos.

In collaboration with Pier Luigi Nervi and Arturo Danusso, Gio Ponti won the the commission to design the Pirelli Tower in the centre of Milan. This
32-story building,
was the second skyscraper built in Milan and became world famous for it's elegance. The building is considered to be the climax of Ponti's entire career.
The Pirellit Tower attracted some attention and Gio Ponti was able to gain international commissions.

1933 - 1936  Casa Domenichino - Milano
1933 - 1936  Casa Torre Rasini - Milano
1936 - 1938  Office Building Montecatini I - Milano
1947 - 1951  Office Building Montecatini II - Milano
1954 - 1956  Office Building Pirelli Tower - Milano
1957 - 1961  Office Building Riunione Adriatica di Sicurtà - Milano
1961 - 1964  Chiesa San Francesco al Fopponino - Milano
1963 - 1971  Apartment and Office Building Palazzo Montedoria - Milano