Domus presents the summer special

The Italian summer of Domus, in 10 places

From Puglia to the island of Elba, from Porto Cervo to Arenzano, we bring you stories of Italy’s summer destinations through the lens of Domus.

The forerunner of organic architecture who came to Elba never to leave again

In the early 1950s, Emilio Isotta transformed the bourgeois idea of Mediterranean island life, between the pine tree canopies at Marina di Campo becoming real architecture, and modern living spaces invaded by the landscape.

That island house: Italian Mediterranean in 11 modern villas

From Capri to Elba, from Sardinia to Pantelleria, between Gio Ponti, Cini Boeri and Luigi Vietti, we selected 10 architectures that blend modernist vocabulary and vernacular suggestions.

Milan: home to Italy’s most beautiful pools. Almost

Milan has a relevant heritage of swimming facilities, true architectural landmarks of the 20th century, still it struggles to valorize it: it is part of a bigger problem, the city’s relationship with water.

Impressive villa on the Amalfi Coast, designed by Gae Aulenti in 1972, is up for sale

The preparatory drawings for La Grotta Rosa can be seen at the Milan Triennale until January 2025. The residence has a swimming pool and private access to the sea.

Beyond eroticism: the myth of the swimming pool in cinema

A delimited and geometric space, and at the same time a suggestive architectural element and a symbol of freedom and desire, the swimming pool in the films becomes a place with multiple symbolic, conflictual, regenerative or mortal values.

10 books for this summer

Aquariums, mushrooms, artificial intelligence, barricades: these are some of the themes of the books we have selected for this summer, to reflect a world in which design is radically rethinking its role.

Italy’s “Sun Motorway”: the story of an exceptional infrastructure

In the spring of 1956, the foundation stone of the A1 Milan-Naples was laid. Let’s look back together at the construction and evolution over time of Italy’s longest motorway, still essential for connecting the country today.

Between ecstasy and vertigo: 12 panoramic observatories

Suspended between sky and abyss or firmly rooted to the ground, panoramic observation platforms offer unusual experiences and views, in search of a fleeting thrill or a more essential change of perspective on the world.

Porto Cervo, the beach of the international jet-set where pan-Mediterranean architecture was born

Built from scratch 60 years ago in an unspoiled area of Sardinia, Porto Cervo has embodied the golden age of the Italian summer, becoming a prime mover in matters of urban development conscious of the autochthonous landscape diversity.

Paradise invented: the villas of Costa Smeralda

From an inspired entrepreneurial vision to the conception of a whole stylistic vocabulary from scratch, Costa Smeralda – north-east of Sardinian shoreline – is still a design challenge, between architectural gems and the risks of property show-off.

Must-see exhibitions in Paris during the summer olympics

In the French capital this summer, it’s all about sports, but there’s more to enjoy. Museums and cultural institutions are presenting an exciting series of events. We have curated a selection of those you won’t want to miss.

Domus Summer