One of the most famous and influential architects of the 20th century, Gio Ponti revolutionized the worlds of architecture and design. Gio Ponti was born in Milan, Italy, in 1891 and earned a degree in architecture after serving his country’s military in WWI. He took his first job with an Italian ceramics company, serving as artistic director, and began to pursue architecture soon afterward. It is possible that his early career in ceramics design influenced the rest of his career, as Ponti never viewed architecture as simply creating buildings. Instead, he often conceived of the building’s interior as well, creating furniture (chairs, coffee tables) , lighting appliances, and even items like ceramics, glassware, and silverware. As if creating entire structures from the outside in wasn’t enough, Gio Ponti also lectured at the university level, inspiring future generations of architects all over the world. He played a valuable role in publishing, serving as the inspiration behind two prestigious art and design magazines.
Ponti’s goal was to integrate the art and architecture worlds, as he believed a building should both serve a purpose and be a visually pleasing addition to a city. His publications, for which he wrote and edited, as well as his own work in architecture, reflected this priority. Viewing the immense body of creative work Gio Ponti left for the world, one might wonder if the man ever slept. His daughter, Lisa, once estimated her father squeezed sixty hours worth of work into a single day. Ponti’s career in architecture included famous buildings across the globe (Denver Art Museum, Pirelli Tower), he wrote poetry and painted, and his designs included not just home furnishings but even a coffee pot and an automobile. Even his personal correspondence was often illustrated with sketches of his ideas. 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.