Antonio Sant-Elia Italian architect. Date of Birth: 30.04.1888 Country: Italy

1. Early Life and Influences
2. The Citt? Nuova Project
3. The Manifesto dell'architettura futurista
4. War and Legacy
5. Architectural Fantasy

Early Life and Influences

Antonio Sant'Elia, an Italian architect, was born in Como, Lombardy. Starting as a builder, he established a design studio in Milan in 1912 and immersed himself in the artistic movement known as Futurism.

The Citt? Nuova Project

Inspired by American industrial cities and Viennese architects Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos, Sant'Elia embarked on the renowned Citt? Nuova ("New City") project between 1912 and 1914. These drawings envisioned a futuristic, mechanized urban landscape with towering skyscrapers, interconnected bridges, and innovative transportation systems.

The Manifesto dell'architettura futurista

In August 1914, Sant'Elia published the groundbreaking Manifesto dell'architettura futurista (Manifesto of Futurist Architecture). It outlined his architectural ideals and introduced the concepts of the Citt? Nuova project. Sant'Elia envisioned a city as a complex and electrified machine, where form and function were intertwined.

War and Legacy

A devout socialist and irredentist, Sant'Elia volunteered for the Italian army during World War I. Tragically, he fell in combat near Monfalcone in 1915. Despite the brevity of his career, Sant'Elia's vision of architectural futurism had a profound impact on 20th-century architecture.

Architectural Fantasy

Sant'Elia, alongside architects like Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, and Yakov Chernikhov, is considered a master of architectural fantasy. His Citt? Nuova project represents the pinnacle of this genre, combining artistic vision with innovative ideas for urban design.