Communicating Culture: the Role of Women and Female Architects Inside Casabella Magazine.The Gaze of Giulia Veronesi (1906-1970) and Gae Aulenti (1927-2021)

If it is true that the presence of women within the editorial staff of Casabella magazine has been a constant since its foundation in 1928, it is equally true that their role and their contributions remain to be studied today. Both Giulia Veronesi and Gae Aulenti have not been forgotten in the history of the famous magazine, but their role is often overshadowed because they lived during distinct golden ages under two of the most predominant directorships: Veronesi during Giuseppe Pagano’s direction (1933-43), which ended with the dramatic closing by the Fascist censorship, and Aulenti under Ernesto Nathan Rogers (1955-65). The exercise of criticism was an active form of cultural militancy and an instrumental stance in the ongoing debate about architecture. In different times and circumstances, these two women demonstrated the pursuit of precise cultural battles through their critical works. Could their female gaze express more personal and independent views on the role of modern architecture in this scenario? This paper aims to investigate their theoretical contributions within the magazine with a view to detect those topics which later reappear in articles or projects. Veronesi was fundamental in preserving the legacy of the main figures of Italian Rationalism, while Aulenti can be considered one of the most active architects in the tangible and cultural reconstruction of Italy. The experience at Casabella was a common starting point, defining a path for future development for both women. The intent of this paper is therefore to highlight the critical thinking of Veronesi and Aulenti, which has been little investigated by contemporary historians in favour of the “roosters in the chicken coop”, as the latter called her male colleagues in the editorial office.