CONTACT | NEWSLETTER | PRESS |
The appearance of Lago di Como at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the 20the century, with its banks shaped by landscaped gardens, landing stages and jetties, drew on the ideal of progress inspired by nascent industrialisation, while maintaining a romantic desire to preserve Nature and the landscape.
At around this time holiday residences and hotels began to be built around the lake, encouraged by the natural beauty of the surroundings and the proximity to Milan. New industries were fuelling growth in the hinterland, and aristocratic visitors were now joined by industrialists and representatives of the middle class.
The lake and surrounding countryside was now sprinkled with residences large and small, and with the villas and houses came new links in the form of funicular railways. The architecture of hotels was mostly eclectic in style, so it was the villas, ranging from classically-inspired residences to mountain chalets, which gave character to the new building boom. The favourite site was directly on the shores of the lake, with a skilfully landscaped garden setting off the architecture of the house, or on a promontory with a belvedere providing panoramic views. By the beginning of the twentieth century some were making use of the new fashion, the refined “Liberty” style, where motifs borrowed from nature contributed to the overall aim of making the architecture blend in with the surrounding countryside.
An interesting example of this trend is the villa owned by the silk magnate Bernasconi at Cernobbio, where he also set up his modern factory, currently being restored by local initiative. In this villa, built in 1905, the architect, Campanini, makes use of a leit motiv inspired by the textile industry, the silkworm amongst mulberry leaves, for the bas-reliefs which adorn the facades, thus weaving into the decoration symbols from the world of work.
At Lanzo d'Intelvi, above Lago di Como, there are two villas, Poletti (1913) and Cirla (1915), designed by the architect Sommaruga, built very much in spirit of the “Liberty"movement, blurring volumes and structures with flowing decorative designs . And in Brunate we find Villa Maria (1904) and Villa Chiara (1906), still wavering between eclecticism and modernism, and finally the purest expressions of floral design: Villa Cantaluppi (1908), Villa Marinoni (1910), Villa Rebuschini (1910) and Villa Franceschini (1911-12).
Another excellent place to find architecture inspired the floral-romantic style is funeral monuments in churchyards. The tombs of the Biffi at Galliano, the Casnati at Casnate and the Salmoiraghi at Lanzo d'Intelvi are major examples of the intertwining of architecture and sculpture so characteristic of the style of Art Nouveau.
Monthly illustrated periodical of decorative arts, directed by architect Camillo Boito.Published by Hoepli and Istituto Italiano d'Arti Grafiche, in Milan and Bergamo, from 1890 to 1912, under the patronage of the Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce.
Monthly illustrated periodical concerning building sciences and practical architecture. Published by Crudo of Turin, from 1905 to 1943.
L'arte decorativa moderna. Rivista di architettura e di decorazione della casa e della via
Monthly illustrated periodical of fine arts and indoor and outdoor decoration, founded by the sculptor Leonardo Bistolfi with Calandra, Ceraioli, Reycend and Thovez. Published by Bertolero of Turin since 1902.
Fortnightly illustrated periodical of Fine and Decorative Arts, published by Roux e Viarengo of Torino since 1904.
Weekly magazine of current events and culture founded in 1873 by Antonio Treves, also chief executive and publisher in Milano till 1939.
Edilizia Moderna: periodico mensile di architettura pratica e costruzione
Periodical of practical architecture and building sciences, founded by Luca Beltrami and published by G. Modiano of Milano, from 1892 to 1917 and from 1929 to1968.
Monthly illustrated periodical of fine arts, literature, siences and miscellaneous, published by Istituto Italiano d'Arti Grafiche of Bergamo since 1895.
Fortnightly periodical of science, literature and arts, published in Milano since 1891 to 1911, by Francesco Vallardi.
Illustrated periodical of fine arts and literature, first published by Novissima Editions of Milan in 1901 and since 1903 to 1913 in Rome.The periodical changed its name several times: from Novissima to Albo Annuale d'Arti E Lettere, then to Rivista d'Arti e Lettere, Albo d'Arti e Lettere, and finally to Rivista mensile d'Arti e Lettere.
Partner: Regione Lombardia D.G. Istruzione, formazione e cultura Piazza Città di Lombardia,1 IT - 20124 Milano Italia Phone: +39 02 6765 2657 E-mail: giuseppe_speranza@regione.lombardia.it
Lombardia cultura
Lombardia Beni Culturali Visual Lombardia
With the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union