Edited by Karl Kolbitz for Taschen, Doorways of Milan is a photo tour of 144 entrances to Milanese buildings, which are lovely examples of Italian Modernism. Here, marble, stones, bas-reliefs, ceramics, and carpets play the role of the protagonist.
Within these public and private places, the entrances are architectural elements themselves, especially in Italy. In particular, Milan, a city developed during the 20th century, holds behind its doors spaces that fascinate and amaze because of their complexity, articulation, materials, and construction details.
The book “Doorways of Milan – Ingressi di Milano”, edited by Karl Kolbitz for Taschen, describes buildings built between 1920 and 1970 by some of the most famous Milanese architects and designers: Giovanni Muzio, Piero Portaluppi, and Luigi Caccia Dominioni, to name a few.
The images of photographers Delfino Sisto Legnani, Paola Pansini, and Matthew Billings convey each location’s atmosphere by highlighting the details of their interaction with the architectural spaces.
Architectural guide to the city but also an essay of aesthetics, “Doorways of Milan” tells the story of – thanks to the editorial contributions of Penny Sparke, Fabrizio Ballabio, Lisa Hockemeyer, Daniel Sherer, Brian Kish, and Grazia Signori – materials and the historical-artistic and social implications of each entrance, specifying the name of the architect, date of construction, precise address, and annotated map of Milan.
Photo Copyright:© Paola Pansini. Giuseppe Roberto Martinenghi, 1937. floors: Marmo Carrara Arabescato walls: Nero Assoluto d’Italia limestone e marmo Calacatta.
Photo Copyright: © Delfino Sisto Legnani. Gio Ponti, Antonio Fornaroli, Alberto Rosselli, 1952–56 Sconce by Gio Ponti. Floors: Serpentinite Verde Acceglio, Porta Santa limestone, marmo Carrara Bardiglio, marmo Carrara Bianco.
