Giuseppe Terragni

Giuseppe Terragni studied at Polytechnic University of Milan. The recorded working language is Italian. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are rationalism. Works named in the authority record are Casa del Fascio (Como), casa del fascio and Danteum. Work by Giuseppe Terragni is recorded in the collections of San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

• Illustration — From left: Luigi Zuccoli, Mario Radice, Neve Nizzoli, Manlio Rho, Marcello Nizzoli and Giuseppe Terragni

Giuseppe Terragni was born to a prominent family in Meda, Lombardy. He attended the Technical College in Como then studied architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan. In 1927 he and his brother Attilio opened an office in Como. They remained in practice until Giuseppe's death during the war years. A pioneer of the modern movement in Italy, Terragni produced some of its most significant buildings. A founding member of the fascist Gruppo 7 and a leading Italian Rationalist, Terragni fought to move architecture away from neo-classical and neo-baroque revivalism. In 1926 he and other progressive members of Gruppo 7 issued the manifesto that made them the leaders in the fight against revivalism. In a career that lasted only 13 years, Terragni created a small but remarkable group of designs; most of them were built in Como, which was one of the centers of the Modern Movement in Italy. These works form the nucleus of the language of Italian rationalist or modernistic architecture. Terragni was also one of the leaders of the artistic group called "astrattisti comaschi" with Mario Radice and Manlio Rho, one of the most important events in Italian Modern Art. He also contributed to the 1932 Exhibition of the Fascist Revolution. In his last designs, Terragni achieved a more distinctive Mediterranean character through the fusion of modern theory and tradition. His brother, Attilio, was the Fascist Podestà (mayor) of Como when the Casa del Fascio was commissioned, and his chief architectural patron was one of Mussolini's mistresses. His career was sidetracked by Italy's entry into World War II, where he was part of the Italian army sent to the Eastern Front. After the Italians collapsed near Stalingrad, Terragni produced drawings of the suffering around him and suffered a nervous breakdown. Terragni returned to Como where he died of thrombosis in 1943.

Giuseppe Terragni is recorded as architect, designer and urban planner.