XII - Villa Gontero and the creative beauty of concrete

Something of an architectural landmark in Italy’s Piedmont landscape, Villa Gontero was an experimental residence built by architect Carlo Graffi between 1969-1971 near Turin. Given its most prominent materials of exposed reinforced concrete and Vibrapac blocks (a kind of prefabricated concrete), it was fittingly commissioned by the owner of a cement company.

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Graffi worked closely with master engineer Sergio Musmeci, who helped execute the cantilever shape – a unique structure that extends horizontally and rises at either end like two abbreviated staircases. The higher end presides over a swimming pool, while red-painted fixtures contrast with the industrial grey tone.

The house is often referred to as an example of Italian Brutalism – it was built in the 1970s when the aesthetics of the movement were at their peak, and upon first view, it seems to fit the label. It uses raw concrete and shows off its structural elements rather than hiding them; it feels bold and heavy, thanks to stepped slabs and exposed geometry.

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It is however lighter and more playful: the windows, structural creativity, and sculptural details soften the harshness. Brutalism often served social or civic aims, but Villa Gontero is a private home focused on individuality and experimentation.

Instead of being about sheer rawness, it reflects Italian engineering artistry blended with architecture and even art. Villa Gontero recalls RIMOWA’s own approach to design – raw materials and precise engineering elevated into something timeless and aesthetically pleasing.

Photographer: Simon Menges

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III - Inside Vila Volman

IV - Inside Jozef Schellekens house - A modernist tour de force

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IX - RIMOWA visits Van Doesburg-Rinsema House

X - RIMOWA visits the ‘Pasta Steamer’: a German modernist icon

XI - The aesthetic harmony of High Sunderland, the ‘See-Through House’

XII - Villa Gontero and the creative beauty of concrete