Villa Necchi Campiglio

History

This central yet serene and tree-lined area attracted Angelo Campiglio and the Necchi sisters, originally from Pavia, who sought a residence in Milan. After acquiring the land around 1930, the architectural design of the new home was entrusted to Piero Portaluppi, and its construction took place between 1932 and 1935 by the Gadola Firm. The house was envisioned as an elegant yet comfortable dwelling, modern in both style and facilities, as evidenced by the inclusion of an elevator, a dumbwaiter, intercoms and telephones, and a heated swimming pool.

Beginning in 1938, and for the next twenty years, the Necchi Campiglio family engaged architect Tomaso Buzzi to redesign the exterior and subsequently the furnishings of some rooms in a style inspired by 18th-century art, which was softer and more elaborate compared to the original minimalism of Portaluppi's spaces.

Angelo Campiglio died in 1984; sisters Nedda and Gigina died in 1993 and 2001, respectively. Without heirs, the sisters were concerned with finding a suitable purpose for the house, ultimately bequeathing it to FAI (Italian Environmental Fund). The villa underwent restoration under the direction of architect Piero Castellini. The works required over three years and an expenditure of approximately six million Euros. Upon completion, the villa was opened to the public in May 2008.