Blu Ponti reflects Sorrento’s stunning seascape

3rd Apr 2021

Esteemed Italian architect and designer Gio Ponti will be eternally remembered for his attention to surface and his tendency towards simplicity in the relationship between structure and form.

Hailed as one of the prime masters of Italian architecture, Gio Ponti is world-renowned for his distinctive designs and unrivalled craftsmanship.

An artist in the purest sense of the word, he enjoyed a successful career spanning six decades, with his iconic creations continuing to prove as popular today as they were at inception.

A man of many talents, Ponti is revered in the architectural, design, and publishing fields, where his legacy lives on as an inspiration to contemporary creatives. Acclaimed among his peers for his functional yet unique style and minimal approach, Ponti’s rich use of detail and expressive shapes, coupled with his neoclassical leaning, saw him rise to the pinnacle of his career.

Although his presence is particularly prevalent in Italian architecture, it is also abundantly evident in buildings around the globe, including the highly acclaimed Villa Planchart in Caracas and the Villa Namazee in Tehran.

Among the most celebrated of his many creations, is the artisanal Blu Ponti collection of glazed Majolica ceramic tiles which he crafted specifically for the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Sorrento between 1960 and 1962.

The decorative range of blue and white ceramics featuring mathematical and geometric patterns was used to transform 100 rooms in the hotel, along with the lobby, reception area, bar, and restaurant, where the tiles continue to take pride of place to this day.

A world-renowned collection, the 33 handcrafted ceramic products that compose Blu Ponti beautifully encapsulate the essence of 1960’s Sorrento.

"The architect must imagine for each window, a person at the sill, for each door a person passing through.” - Gio Ponti

Capturing the essence of the magical scenery of Sorrento, Ponti’s Blu collection, featuring 33 glazed Majolica ceramic tiles, is as mesmerising today as when it was conceived in the 1960s.

Designed at Ceramica D’Agostino for the Hotel Parco dei Principi di Sorrento, the patterned blue and white tiles truly are a joy to behold, evoking memories of hazy summer days spent by the sea.