Antonio Sant'Elia - 'First World War Memorial', Italy, c1912-16 vintage poster

Antonio Sant'Elia (Italian pronunciation: [anˈtɔːnjo santeˈliːa]; 30 April 1888 – 10 October 1916) was an Italian architect and a key member of the Futurist movement in architecture. He left behind almost no completed works of architecture and is primarily remembered for his bold sketches and influence on modern architecture.^[1]

Early years

Antonio Sant'Elia was born in Como, Lombardy. A builder by training, he studied at the Brera Academy in Milan with Giuseppe Mentessi, and then at the University of Bologna, where he graduated in architecture in 1912.^[2] The same year, he opened a design office in Milan and became involved with the Futurist movement after meeting with Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.