Gio Ponti - architect, designer, art director, writer, poet, professor, and critic - was one of the most renowned protagonists of Italian architecture and design in the 20th century. Forty years after his death, the Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo (MAXXI) in Rome is dedicating a major retrospective to this exceptional figure. Beginning with his architecture, which can be charaterised as a unique and original synthesis of tradition and modernity, history and design, elite culture and everyday life, the show explores his many-faceted talent, selecting projects that concretely illustrate the key concepts found throughout his architecture and design work. Included here are archival materials, models, photographs, books, magazines and objects which illustrate the many achievements of his six decade career.

Contents:
1 - Introductions by: Paolo Rosselli, Giovanna Melandri, Margherita Guccione; 2 - Essays by: Anna Chiara Cimoli, Salvatore Licitra, Massimiliano Savorra, Maria Teresa Feraboli, Luigi Spinelli, Francesca Zanella, Stefania Mornati, Paolo Campiglio, Silvia Bignami, Alessandra Muntoni, Elena Tinacci, Fabio Mangone, Alberto Gavazzi, Filippo De Pieri, Jorge Rivas, Anat Falbel, Angelica Ponzio, Hannia Gomez, Fulvio Irace, Manolo De Giorgi, Valentina Marchetti, Bernard Colenbrander, Farhan Karim, Sergio Pace, Manfredo Nicolis di Robilant, Rejean Legault, Domitilla Dardi, Fabio Colonnese, Elena Dellapiana, Barry Bergdoll, Lucia Miodini, Giorgio Ciucci, Daria Ricchi, Giovanni Marzari, Manuela Leoni, Cecilia Rostagni, Roberto Dulio; 3 - Biography; 4 - Bibliography.

Published to accompany an exhibition at the Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo (MAXXI) in Rome from 7 November 2019 - 26 April 2020.