Alziro Bergonzo facts for kids

The fourth City Gate of Valletta, Malta, which was designed by Bergonzo and built in 1964–65. It was taken down in 2011.

Alziro Bergonzo (born December 30, 1906 – died May 22, 1997) was a talented Italian architect and painter. He was known for his modern building designs, especially in a style called rationalism, which focuses on clean lines and practical shapes.

Early Life and Education

Alziro Bergonzo was born in Bergamo, Italy. His father, Luigi Bergonzo, was an engineer who had moved to Bergamo in the early 1900s. Alziro studied at the Liceo Sarpi, a high school, before going to the Faculty of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1925. There, he met other future famous architects like Franco Albini. His studies were paused for a while because of military service, but he graduated in 1933.

Starting His Career

After finishing his studies, Alziro worked in his father's well-known studio. This helped him meet many important professionals and artists in the world of design and building. People quickly noticed the quality of his early work. Soon, he started getting projects from both public and private clients, mostly in his hometown of Bergamo.

Work After World War II

When World War II began, Bergonzo moved his studio to Rome. After the war ended, he faced some challenges and was temporarily unable to work in his field. However, in 1946, he was allowed to work again and won a competition for a project in Lido di Venezia.

Bergonzo designed many important buildings after the war. These include the Casa Trussardi in Bergamo and the Teatro Manzoni in Milan. He also worked on port projects in Saudi Arabia and a theater in Cairo. One of his notable international designs was the fourth City Gate in Valletta, Malta, which was built in the mid-1960s.

Later Years and Legacy

After designing many public buildings, Bergonzo started focusing more on projects for private clients. At the same time, he spent more time on his painting, especially in the last years of his life. He passed away in Milan in 1997. This was shortly after his last major work, the new Piazza della Libertà in Bergamo, was opened.

Works

The Casa dell'ONB, now called Auditorium Modernissimo, in Nembro, built in 1936.

The Casa Littoria, now known as Palazzo della Libertà, in Bergamo, completed in 1939.

The Casa del Fascio in Nembro, built in 1940.

Here are some of Alziro Bergonzo's important works:

• Hotel Franceschetti, Presolana Pass (1929)
• Casa Pellegrini, Bergamo (1932–33)
• Casa del Balilla, Bergamo (1932)
• Fountain of Porta Nuova, Bergamo (1935)
• Colonia elioterapica, Palazzolo sull'Oglio (1935–36)
• Casa del Fascio, Caravaggio (1935–37)
• Casa dell'Opera Nazionale Balilla (now Auditorium Modernissimo), Nembro (1936)
• Casa Littoria (now Casa della Libertà), Bergamo (1937–40)
• Municipio, Palazzo Italo Balbo, Nembro (1940)
• Torre dei Venti, Bergamo highway exit (1940–41)
• Casa Trussardi, Bergamo alta (1945)
• Teatro Manzoni, Milan (1946–50)
• Palazzo dei congressi, Stresa (1956–57)
• Reggiani textile factory (extension), Bergamo (1957–66)
• Chiesa dei Tre Martiri, Rimini
• Fourth City Gate, Valletta, Malta (1964–65)

Images for kids

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  Fountain of Porta Nuova, Bergamo, 1935

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  Extension of Reggiani textile factory, Bergamo, 1954-57 (photo by Paolo Monti)

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  Palazzo Congressi, Stresa, 1956–57

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  Church of Sant'Antonio, Piazza Tre Martiri, Rimini, 1963