The Casa del Fascio in Como stands as a definitive manifestation of the International Style in Italy, its 1932 to 1936 construction marking a pivot away from neo-classical revivalism. Designed by Giuseppe Terragni, this structure serves as the primary example of the architect's commitment to Rationalist principles within the Kingdom of Italy during the early twentieth century.
Early Career and Rationalist Advocacy
Born in Meda in 1904, Terragni attended the Technical College in Como before completing his architectural training at the Polytechnic University of Milan. In 1927, he established a professional office in Como alongside his brother, Attilio Terragni. During this period, he became a founding member of the Gruppo 7, a collective of architects who issued a manifesto in 1926 rejecting neo-baroque and neo-classical design languages in favor of a modern approach.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Architectural Production and Artistic Engagement
Terragni’s career spanned 13 years, during which he contributed to the 1932 Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution. Beyond his structural projects, he participated in the artistic circle known as 'astrattisti comaschi' alongside Mario Radice and Manlio Rho. His work in Como, specifically the Casa del Fascio, featured interior frescoes by Mario Radice, highlighting a synthesis of abstract art and modern architecture.
The Danteum and Final Projects
In 1938, Terragni was commissioned by Rino Valdameri, the president of the Società Dantesca Italiana, to design the Danteum. This project was conceived as an unbuilt monument dedicated to the poet Dante Alighieri, with a structural organization derived from the formal divisions of the Divine Comedy. His later designs attempted to integrate modern theory with traditional elements, reflecting a evolving Mediterranean character.
War Service and Death
The trajectory of his professional life was altered by the entry of the Kingdom of Italy into World War II. Terragni was deployed to the Eastern Front as part of the Italian army. Following the collapse of Italian forces near Stalingrad, he experienced a nervous breakdown and produced drawings documenting the conflict. He returned to Como and died from thrombosis in 1943 at the age of 39.
Fast facts
- Born: 1904, Meda
- Died: 1943, Como, Pavia
- Education: Polytechnic University of Milan
- Key Movement: Italian Rationalism
- Significant Project: Casa del Fascio
- Notable Unbuilt Work: Danteum
- Professional Collaborators: Mario Radice, Manlio Rho, Attilio Terragni
Questions readers ask
What architectural style did Terragni pioneer?
He was a leading figure of the Italian modern movement under the rubric of Rationalism.
Was the Danteum ever built?
No, the Danteum remains an unbuilt monument.
Achievements
- Notable work: Casa del Fascio (Como)
- Notable work: casa del fascio
- Notable work: Danteum
- Educated at Polytechnic University of Milan
- Worked as architect, designer and urban planner
