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Italian style in
architecture and design
‘Gio
Ponti (1891-1979). A world
of design’
Exhibition in the Main Hall of the
Netherlands Architecture
Institute (NAI)
19 October 2002 to 15 January 2003
Starting
on 19 October, the vast
and richly varied oeuvre
of the leading Italian
designer and architect Gio
Ponti will be on show in
the NAI. The countless
works in the exhibition
will illustrate Ponti’s
pursuit of a total design
approach in which
architecture, interior
design and product design
merge seamlessly - a world
of design.
Besides
scale models, drawings and
photographs of his main
architectural designs, the
exhibition will include a
wide selection of his
furniture, tableware,
fabrics and ceramics. A
number of panels designed
by Ponti will be mounted
on the facade of the NAI
for the occasion of the
exhibition. These
colourful panels originate
from the public square
alongside the Bijenkorf
department store in
Eindhoven.
Versatility
The Pirelli Tower in Milan, the
luxurious Villa Planchart
in Caracas, the furniture
for Cassina, the glasswork
for Venini, the legendary
‘La Cornuta’ espresso
machine and his work as
the editor of the
trendsetting Domus
magazine: Ponti’s
multidisciplinary talent
has created milestones, as
though effortlessly, in
every discipline. The
diversity of Ponti’s
work is evident from the
layout and graphic design
of the special exhibition
in the NAI. It will throw
light both on the
maturation of his work in
time and its development
within specific
disciplines.
Lightness
From the 1920s to the late 1970s, Gio
Ponti worked in a
completely individual
style which combined
classic forms with
modernist developments
taking place after the
second world war in Italy.
He strove for lightness
and transparency in all
his work. His campaign
against voluminous, heavy,
clumsy masses impinged on
architecture, interior
design and furniture
design. The convincing
answer consisted of
innovative ideas and
designs for lightweight
furniture, open spaces and
perforated facades.
Italian
design
Ponti propagated his views through many
books and magazines, and
also by working with other
designers and
manufacturers. He was
convinced of the
advantages of
collaboration between
design and industry. Most
of his designs were
created with serial
production in mind. This
contributed to the growth
of Ponti’s reputation
both in Italy and abroad,
and to his significant
role in the rise and
success of Italian design
in the 1950s and 60s.
Superleggera
The aspects of lightness and serial
production are united in
one of Ponti’s most
famous furniture designs,
the Superleggera. Ponti
worked for nearly ten
years to perfect this
‘super-light’ chair,
which often figures in his
designs for interiors and
homes. The chair is still
manufactured by the
Italian company Cassina.
The exhibition will show
various stages in the
development of the
Superleggera chair.
Special
activities
During the Gio Ponti exhibition, the
NAI will glory in the
wealth of Italian culture.
Visitors may enjoy special
refreshment arrangements,
guided tours and other
special activities that
relate to the world of Gio
Ponti.
On 7 and 8 November, there will be two
lecture evenings under the
titles ‘La casa
all’Italia. A world of
design’ and ‘Amate
l’Architettura. A world
of architecture’.
Experts such as Gijs
Bakker, Droog Design (dutch
spoken), Peter Fiell and
Massimiliano Fuksas will
talk about the work and
influence of Gio Ponti.
A festive Ponti day will be held in the
NAI on 14 December. There
will be workshops, films
about the cruise liner
Andrea Doria, olive oil
and wine tastings, guided
tours and a presentation
by students of Design
Academy Eindhoven.
The exhibition was presented earlier at
the Design Museum in
London (curators Marco
Romanelli and James Peto).
The exhibition is sponsored by a unique
collaboration of Vesteda,
3W Vastgoed and ING Real
Estate. The projects
conducted by these
companies emphasise the
relation between interior
and exterior, and the
importance of quality in
architecture and design.
Gio Ponti is a brilliant
example of such quality.
Note
to the editors:
For
further information
(biography of Ponti,
exhibition fact sheet,
programme of activities
and extensive visual
material), please contact
the External Affairs
Department / Marketing and
Communications Team of the
NAI (Martine Heijnen,
Astrid Karbaat and
Cornelis Krul).T +31 (0)10
440 1200
e-mail:
press@nai.nl
website: www.nai.nl
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