Ignazio Gardella (1905–1999) graduated in Engineering in 1928 from the Politecnico di Milano and in Architecture in 1949 from the IUAV in Venice. He was an undisputed leading figure in the Italian architectural scene of the twentieth century.

During the 1930s, he designed his first rationalist works, including the renowned Anti-Tuberculosis Dispensary in Alessandria (1933–1938).

In the post-war period, Gardella participated in competitions and worked on numerous projects, receiving prestigious awards and recognition both in Italy and abroad. Among his most notable works are the Contemporary Art Pavilion of the Galleria d’Arte Moderna (PAC) in Milan (1947–1954) and the Casa alle Zattere in Venice (1953–1958), the first modern building in less than fifty years to receive protection by the Ministry of Cultural and Environmental Heritage.

In 1996, Ignazio Gardella received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale of Architecture.