Ignazio Gardella

Ignazio Gardella (1905–1999) was one of the key figures of 20th-century Italian architecture and a pioneer of rationalist design. Born in Milan, he trained as both engineer and architect, beginning his prolific career in the 1930s with seminal public works such as the Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary in Alessandria. A professor at the IUAV in Venice and an active contributor to major architectural movements like CIAM and MSA, Gardella’s work bridged classical rigor with modern innovation. His portfolio spans from Milan’s Galleria d’Arte Moderna to the Olivetti canteen in Ivrea and the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa. He is known for his precise yet poetic use of form, material, and proportion. His legacy lives on through the Gardella Historical Archive, which safeguards five generations of architectural contributions.