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Why Architect Piero Portaluppi’s Inspiring Works Are Finally Getting Their Due

The legendary Milanese creative has influenced generations of creators

By Jacqueline Terrebonne
Spiral concrete staircase with green metal railing outside a building, with sunlight and shadows on the steps and wall.
The external spiral staircase at Casa Corbellini-Wassermann. Photo: Lorenzo Pennati

Once overlooked by critics, early-20th-century Milanese architect Piero Portaluppi never received the adulation his elegantly avant-garde work deserved. But since his Villa Necchi Campiglio appeared in both I Am Love in 2009 and the more recent House of Gucci, his star has steadily been on the rise.

Spiral staircase with wooden railings and geometric floor tiles, featuring text "Piero Portaluppi" by Rizzoli.
The cover of the book by Rizzoli. Photo: Courtesy of Rizzoli New York

Now the new book Piero Portaluppi (Rizzoli), with text by Patrizia Piccinini and photography by Lorenzo Pennati, gives his structures a long overdue spotlight. And there’s much more to his genius than Villa Necchi’s sweeping veranda and double frieze stair rail. His other great accomplishments include Milan’s octagonal-shaped Hoepli Planetarium, where Bulgari mounted an exhibition of Tomás Saraceno’s work in 2019, as well as Casa Corbellini-Wassermann (shown), which now houses Massimo De Carlo art gallery. Looking around the city, there’s no doubt Portaluppi influenced the architects that came in the generation after him—and with this magnificent tome, he’ll certainly inspire generations to come.

View a selection of Piero Portaluppi’s most striking masterworks below.

Elegant stone building entrance with large glass doors, curved canopy, and surrounding greenery.
The entrance to the Villa Necchi Campiglio. Photo: Lorenzo Pennati
Spacious living room with green sofas, large windows, and a decorative floor overlooking a lush garden scene.
A glimpse of the veranda at Villa Necchi Campiglio. Photo: Lorenzo Pennati
Historic building complex surrounded by trees and mountains with a garden and fountain in the foreground under a cloudy sky.
Verampio Power Station. Photo: Lorenzo Pennati
Spiral stone staircase with metal railing outside a building, surrounded by windows and wooden doors.
The external spiral staircase at Casa Corbellini-Wassermann. Photo: Lorenzo Pennati
Ornate tiled floor leads to a marble staircase with elegant wall design in a bright, open architectural space.
Filatura Cascami Seta. Photo: Lorenzo Pennati

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2022 Spring Issue under the headline “The Artful Life.” Subscribe to the magazine.