Carlo Aymonino: Architect, Theorist, and the Politics of Urban Form

Carlo Aymonino (1926–2010) was a pivotal figure in Italian architecture, known for his theoretical contributions and urban projects. His book 'Origini e sviluppo della città moderna' (first edition 1965, fifth by 1974) challenged Leonardo Benevolo's thesis linking urbanism directly to politics. Aymonino argued that modern architecture's origins lie in the 18th- and 19th-century industrial city, not in a rejection of the past. He advocated for disciplinary autonomy, emphasizing typology and urban morphology as tools to understand and design cities. With Aldo Rossi, he designed the Gallaratese housing complex in Milan (1969–1973), featuring two contrasting blocks: Aymonino's expressive, colorful unit and Rossi's stark, 185-meter white slab. Aymonino served as rector of IUAV in Venice (1974–1979) and later taught in Rome. In 1981 he became assessor for Rome's historic center, commissioning projects from architects like Maurizio Sacripanti and Alessandro Anselmi, though most remained unbuilt due to bureaucratic obstacles. His final major work was the canopy for the Giardino Romano at the Musei Capitolini, housing the original Marcus Aurelius statue. Aymonino died on July 3, 2010, largely forgotten. The article is part of the 'Architetti d’Italia' series by Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi.