Carlo Aymonino

Carlo Aymonino (born 18 July 1926) is an Italian architect and urban planner best known for the Gallaretese housing complex in Milan.

Early life

Born in Rome, he studied at the University of Rome, obtaining his degree in 1950. In the same years, he also got trained by Marcello Piacentini.

Architect of Neorealism

The year after his graduation, he opened his architectural practice in Rome. Between 1949 and 1954, with the very famous Mario Ridolfi and Ludovico Quaroni he had his first real professional experience, building the INA-Casa housing complex. This was located in Rome, on Via Tiburtina, and is a remarkable example of Italian neo-realism.

Through this architectural experience, he acquired the practical skills which will be visible in later housing projects. Among the letter, remarkable were the 1955 'Spine Bianche' complex, located in the city of Matera, and the 1957 'Tratturo dei Preti' housing project, in the city of Foggia.

Editor

Starting in 1954, Aymonino also worked as editor of the magazine "Il contemporaneo" . Between 1957 and 1965 he also wrote for Casabella, participating to the late 1950s strong, vivid cultural and architectural debates.

Town planner

In 1957 Carlo Aymonino became a founder as well as a member of the "Società di Architettura e Urbanistica" - S.A.U. (Town Planning & Architecture Society).

Concerning the town planning activity, Aymonino developed the idea of the "Directional Centre" as a tool capable of linking a city to its surroundings. This appeared applicable in particular to recognizable urban typologies.

Aymonino put into practice such concepts and theories in the 1962 competition proposals for the city centres of Turin and Bologna.

The AYDE Group

In 1960 he founded Studio AYDE with Maurizio Aymonino, his brother, and with Baldo and Alessandro De Rossi.