Archivio Cattaneo

Archivio Cattaneo (Associazione Archivio Cattaneo) is an Italian non-profit cultural association founded in June 2000 and based in Cernobbio, in the province of Como. Its primary mission is to conserve, protect and make accessible the artistic and architectural heritage of the rationalist architect Cesare Cattaneo (1912–1943), a key figure of Italian Rationalism and a member of the Como-based Gruppo 7 circle. The association was established at the wish of Cattaneo's heirs, particularly his son Damiano Cattaneo, and it marked the formal conclusion of the organisation and inventorying of the architect's entire body of material. The archive holds a substantial collection: 103 inventoried projects comprising 507 drawings, 182 panels, 2,692 photographs, 1,125 sketches, 17 texts, plus personal notebooks containing sketches and reflections. The material is on loan (comodato) from the heirs to the association. The association is headquartered on the first floor of one of Cesare Cattaneo's most significant works, the Casa d'affitto (rental apartment building) in Cernobbio. In recent years the association has been working on the digitisation and digital acquisition of the entire archival heritage. Beyond conservation, Archivio Cattaneo is active in dissemination: it opens its exhibition rooms to the public by appointment, collaborates with students and researchers (granting digital copies for study purposes), and organises exhibitions, conferences and publications. Its editorial activity includes several series — the Quaderni dell'Archivio Cattaneo, the Saggi, the Cataloghi, and monographs on Cesare Cattaneo. The association has curated or participated in international exhibitions such as "Cesare Cattaneo 1912 1943" (Rotterdam, 1987, Museo Boymans), "Le prefigurazioni plastiche" (Bergamo, 1990, Galleria La Diade), and "L'Arte e l'Ideale" (Como, 1988, Palazzo del Broletto), and has collaborated on events in Milan, the Venice Biennale, Rome, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Kassel, the Reina Sofia Museum in Valencia, and Tokyo. After 2001 it has promoted numerous exhibitions of Italian and international architects, mainly at its Cernobbio headquarters, Villa del Grumello in Como, Palazzo Terragni in Lissone, and the Accademia di San Luca. Recent activities include a series of exhibitions at the Asilo Garbagnati, such as "Cesare Cattaneo e il sacro" (opening 8 November 2025), "Architetture Olivettiane" (opening 20 September 2025), "Lo spazio armonico e la fontana di Camerlata" (opening 17 May 2025), and "Un progetto di territorio per la sua rinascita" (opening 14 March 2025). The association also runs a "Book of the Week" feature and produces video content on Cattaneo's projects, such as "Le prefigurazioni plastiche" made by Corrado Tagliabue. Its administration includes President Matteo Moscatelli and Secretary/Treasurer Pietro Lanni.

Archivio Cattaneo was established in June 2000 in Cernobbio, Italy, at the initiative of the heirs of the rationalist architect Cesare Cattaneo (1912–1943), particularly his son Damiano Cattaneo. Its founding marked the completion of the organisation and inventorying of all of Cattaneo's material. With the drafting of its statute, the Associazione Archivio Cattaneo set its primary objective: the conservation and maintenance of the archival heritage and the promotion of initiatives aimed at developing debate around modern and contemporary architecture. The archival material, on loan from the heirs, was gathered over the years through the cataloguing and inventorying of both previously known and published materials and new, unpublished or newly discovered materials. The collection now comprises 103 inventoried projects, including 507 drawings, 182 panels, 2,692 photographs, 1,125 sketches, 17 texts, and personal notebooks with sketches and reflections. In recent years the association has focused on the digitisation and digital acquisition of the entire archival heritage. The association is headquartered on the first floor of one of Cesare Cattaneo's most significant works, the Casa d'affitto in Cernobbio. It opens its exhibition rooms to the public by appointment and collaborates with students and researchers, granting digital copies for study purposes. Since its founding, Archivio Cattaneo has been active in curating and participating in exhibitions. It organised international exhibitions such as "Cesare Cattaneo 1912 1943" (Rotterdam, 1987, Museo Boymans), "Le prefigurazioni plastiche" (Bergamo, 1990, Galleria La Diade), and "L'Arte e l'Ideale" (Como, 1988, Palazzo del Broletto), and collaborated on events in Milan, the Venice Biennale, Rome, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Kassel, the Reina Sofia Museum in Valencia, and Tokyo. After 2001, it promoted numerous exhibitions of Italian and international architects, mainly at its Cernobbio headquarters, Villa del Grumello in Como, Palazzo Terragni in Lissone, and the Accademia di San Luca. Notable exhibitions include "Cesare Cattaneo e i Littorali della cultura e dell'arte. 1934-35" (Palazzo Terragni, Lissone, 2009), "Cesare Cattaneo 1912-1943. Pensiero e segno nell'architettura" (Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Rome, 2012; San Pietro in Atrio, Como, 2013), "Maestri Comacini" (Pinacoteca Civica, Como, 2015), "Luigi Snozzi al Novocomum" (Como, 2016), "Pierre Alain Dupraz al Novocomum" (Como, 2017), and "Cesare Cattaneo e le Case Isolate" (Archivio Cattaneo, Cernobbio, 2018). With the Ordine degli Architetti di Como, the association organises lecture series on 20th-century architecture, inviting international figures such as Aires Mateus, and participates in the Open-day del Razionalismo Comasco, held about three times a year in Como. The association also maintains an active publishing programme, with series including the Quaderni dell'Archivio Cattaneo, the Saggi, the Cataloghi, and monographs on Cesare Cattaneo. Recent activities include a series of exhibitions at the Asilo Garbagnati in 2025, a "Book of the Week" feature, and video content on Cattaneo's projects, such as "Le prefigurazioni plastiche" by Corrado Tagliabue.

• 2025

  Series of exhibitions at Asilo Garbagnati, including 'Cesare Cattaneo e il sacro' (Nov 8), 'Architetture Olivettiane' (Sep 20), 'Lo spazio armonico e la fontana di Camerlata' (May 17), and 'Un progetto di territorio per la sua rinascita' (Mar 14).

• 2018

  Exhibition 'Cesare Cattaneo e le Case Isolate' at Archivio Cattaneo, Cernobbio.

• 2017

  Exhibition 'Pierre Alain Dupraz al Novocomum' at Ordine degli Architetti, Como.

• 2016

  Exhibition 'Luigi Snozzi al Novocomum' at Ordine degli Architetti, Como.

• 2015

  Exhibition 'Maestri Comacini' at Pinacoteca Civica, Como.

• 2013

  Exhibition 'Cesare Cattaneo 1912-1943. Pensiero e segno nell'architettura' at San Pietro in Atrio, Como.

• 2012

  Exhibition 'Cesare Cattaneo 1912-1943. Pensiero e segno nell'architettura' at Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, Rome.

• 2009

  Exhibition 'Cesare Cattaneo e i Littorali della cultura e dell'arte. 1934-35' at Palazzo Terragni, Lissone.

• 2001

  Association begins promoting numerous exhibitions of Italian and international architects.

• 2000

  Associazione Archivio Cattaneo founded in June in Cernobbio by the heirs of Cesare Cattaneo.

• 1990

  Exhibition 'Le prefigurazioni plastiche' at Galleria La Diade, Bergamo.

• 1988

  Exhibition 'L'Arte e l'Ideale' at Palazzo del Broletto, Como.

• 1987

  Exhibition 'Cesare Cattaneo 1912 1943' at Museo Boymans, Rotterdam.

Non-profit cultural association dedicated to preserving and promoting the architectural heritage of Cesare Cattaneo and modern/contemporary architecture.

• Quaderni dell'Archivio Cattaneo

• Saggi

• Cataloghi

• Monographs on Cesare Cattaneo

1. 1Archivio Cattaneo official websitecesarecattaneo.com
2. 2Archivio Cattaneo on Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Archivio Cattaneo on Italian Wikipediait.wikipedia.org