Gio Ponti: 1891 - 1978, Mater of Lightness - Softcover

Positive hues: Ponti's multifaceted oeuvre. Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti (1891-1979) was the creator of a multifaceted oeuvre. Starting off with ceramics and majolika works at the First International Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Monza, he moved on to furniture and interior design and built structures of all kinds, from small residential dwellings to high rise buildings, schools, and office blocks. One of his great interests was the theme of the home, for which he continually sought to find new solutions. Ponti's colorful, carefree, elegant spaces were designed to inspire optimism in their occupants. The founder and nearly lifelong editor of domus magazine never stopped developing and reinventing his style. This book provides an introduction to Ponti's creative process and gives an overview of the various phases of his career. Every book in TASCHEN's "Basic Architecture Series" features: approximately 120 images, including photographs, sketches, drawings, and floor plans; introductory essays exploring the architect's life and work, touching on family and background as well as collaborations with other architects; the most important works presented in chronological order, with descriptions of client and/or architect wishes as well as construction problems and resolutions; and an appendix including a list of complete or selected works, biography, bibliography and a map indicating the locations of the architect's most famous buildings.

Graziella Roccella lives in Turin where she works as freelance architect and assistant professor in architectural design. She has published various essays and given lectures on contemporary architecture and theories of architectural research. As an architect she works in the field of interior design and residential buildings with a special regard to sustainable architecture.