Domus Fausta, Carola and Julia

Ponti built ten apartment buildings in Milan that he called “Domus” or “case tipiche”. All of them had women’s names.

The three buildings in Via De Togni represent the first and most famous example of the application of his concept of domestic architecture, based on reproducibility and the human scale. Medium-size apartments with six or seven rooms have accurately studied plans with built-in furniture. Bathroom fixtures were regrouped on equipped walls fitted with modern appliances. More space was given to the living rooms, which were to be sparsely furnished.

The facades, with balconies and loggias, are finished with Terranova plasterwork in a lively combination of colours: ochre for Fausta, brick-red for Carola, and moss-green for Julia. The colour sequence was meant to contribute to a modern urban landscape that was as colourful as traditional Italian architecture.

Other significant buildings by Gio Ponti: Small Building (with E. Lancia), 1924-1926, Via Giovanni Randaccio 9
Monument to War Victims (with E. Lancia, G. Muzio, A. Alpago Novello, T. Buzzi, O. Cabiati), 1927-1929, Largo Fra Agostino Gemelli; Largo Caduti Milanesi per la Patria
Apartment Building (with E. Lancia), 1928-1930, Via Domenichino 1/3
Marmont House (with Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Soncini), 1933-1935, Via Gustavo Modena 36
Columbus Clinic (with Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Soncini), 1938-1949, Via Michelangelo Buonarroti 48
Ponti House and Studio (with Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Rosselli), 1952 and 1957, Via Giuseppe Dezza 49
RAS office building (with Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Rosselli and P. Portaluppi), 1956-1962, Via Santa Sofia 18/28/32; Corso Italia 21/27; Via Sant’Eufemia 23
Melandri house (with Studio Ponti-Fornaroli-Rosselli), 1957, Viale Lunigiana 14
S. Francesco al Fopponino Church, 1961-1964, Via Paolo Giovio 41