Aimaro Isola

• Name — Aimaro Isola • Birth Name — Aimaro Oreglia d'Isola • Born — 14 January 1928 • Birthplace — Turin, Kingdom of Italy • Education — Polytechnic University of Turin • Occupation — Architect, designer, urban planner

Aimaro Isola is the youngest son of Baron Vittorio Oreglia d'Isola and Countess Caterina Malingri di Bagnolo, and the brother of nun Leletta D'Isola. At the age of 16, he joined the Italian Resistance, becoming a member of the 105th Garibaldi Brigade. He graduated in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Turin in 1952, where he later also taught. In 1950, he established a professional firm with Roberto Gabetti, marking the beginning of a long and prolific partnership. By the late 1950s, Gabetti and Isola had become key figures in the Neo-liberty movement. Their most notable works include Casa Paravia in Turin, the Palazzo della Borsa Valori di Torino (Turin), and the Alba Courthouse, as well as residential complexes, urban plans, religious buildings, and architectural restorations. Following Gabetti's death in 2000, he continued his architectural work by founding the Isolarchitetti studio with his son, Saverio. Isola's architectural philosophy is centered on the concept of ambientamento—the active reading of a site's historical and natural "traces" to achieve a harmonious integration of new design within its context. Moving away from the "aseptic" industrial aesthetic of the International Style, his work with Gabetti catalyzed the Neo-liberty movement, emphasizing historicism, artisanal craftsmanship, and a "total decor" approach that prioritized the sentimental connection between the user and the space. Central to Isola's practice is the ethics of abitare (dwelling), viewing architecture as a "concave" and protective shell—recalling animal shelters or the maternal womb—responding to human biological and psychological needs. In his later career, he proposed the "Nature-City" (Città-Natura) model, advocating for urban regeneration that treats the city as an ecosystem where nature acts as a unifying force across fragmented territories. This vision is underpinned by a critical inquiry into the relationship between tekne (technology) and logos (reason), where architecture serves as a "measure of reality" while navigating the ethical risks posed by modern technology. Isola has been a member of the Accademia di San Luca in Rome, and a member of the Academy of Sciences in Turin. Isola's design works are included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the MAXXI in Rome.

• Illustration — Alba Courthouse • Palazzo della Borsa Valori di Torino (1953–1956) • Monument to the Fallen of the Resistance, Pinerolo (1965) • Western Residential Unit for Olivetti, Ivrea (1968) • Alba Courthouse (1981–1987) • Marina of Varazze (1984–2006) • Parish of Santa Maria in Zivido, San Giuliano Milanese (1998–2008) • Block Santo Stefano, Turin (2000–2006) • IBM Corporate Centre, Segrate (2001–2004) • Renovation and refunctionalization of the Egyptian Museum, Turin (from 2008) • New Bergamo Courthouse (2003–2007) • Restyling of the Eram Shopping Mall, Tehran (2011) • New museum use for the Cavour Castle, Santena (2012)