Villa Necchi Campiglio

Villa Necchi Campiglio is a jewel of Milanese architecture located in the heart of the city, on via Mozart, surrounded by a large garden with a swimming pool and tennis court. Built between 1932 and 1935 according to the design of architect Piero Portaluppi, it represents one of the most refined examples of Italian rationalism, combining elements of modernity with a sophisticated Art Deco aesthetic. The villa was commissioned by Angelo Campiglio and the sisters Nedda and Gigina Necchi, prominent members of the Lombard industrial bourgeoisie. Their desire was to create a residence that reflected their social status and their love for art and contemporary architecture. Portaluppi designed the building as a total work of art, paying attention to every detail, from the interiors to the outdoor areas. The villa included cutting-edge technological innovations for the time, such as an elevator, a dumbwaiter, intercoms, and a heated swimming pool, the first of its kind in Milan. The exterior of the villa is austere and monumental, with a facade characterized by the use of different materials on each floor, such as granite and marble, which give a variety of textures and colors. The main entrance, with its imposing glass and iron door, leads to a foyer paved in walnut and rosewood, creating an impression of opulence and welcome. The garden, designed to be an oasis of tranquility in the urban center, is an example of how architecture can harmoniously integrate with nature. The interiors of the villa are equally fascinating, with a combination of rationalism and Art Deco. The library, with its rosewood shelving and stucco ceiling decorated with diamond motifs, is one of the most intimate and refined rooms in the house. The veranda, conceived as a green lounge with plants between double glass, is one of the most suggestive spaces of the villa, offering a panoramic view of the garden. In 1938, the Necchi Campiglio family commissioned architect Tomaso Buzzi to redesign the interiors in a neo-traditional style, softer and more decorative than Portaluppi’s minimalism. Buzzi introduced elements inspired by 18th-century art, such as the classic-style fireplace and walls covered in Flemish tapestries and velvet. This intervention created an interesting and dynamic contrast between the rationalist rigor of the original spaces and the decorative richness of the new additions. During World War II, the villa was requisitioned and used as a headquarters by the Italian Social Republic and later by the Allies. After the war, the family regained ownership of the property and continued to live in the villa until the 1980s. Upon the death of the Necchi sisters, with no direct heirs, the villa was donated to FAI (Italian Environment Fund), which transformed it into a museum house open to the public in 2008, after a careful restoration. Today, Villa Necchi Campiglio houses a series of valuable art collections, including works by Canaletto, Sironi, Fontana, and De Chirico, donated to FAI by various patrons. These collections further enrich the villa’s heritage, making it a place of great cultural and artistic interest. The villa has also been the setting for important film productions, such as Luca Guadagnino’s film “I Am Love,” which has helped to introduce this extraordinary example of rationalist architecture to a wider audience. Its rooms, with their refined decorations and atmosphere of times past, offer a fascinating journey into the past, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the life of one of the most influential families in 20th-century Milan.