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An Open Work

By Shantel Blakely *97

Published Nov. 11, 2026

The first English-language book entirely devoted to Italian architect and designer Marco Zanuso (1919-2001), An Open Work (MIT Press) explores his approach to architecture and design through a close study of his family’s 1960s Milan apartment. Taking readers on a room-by-room tour of the apartment complex, Blakely examines how Zanuso incorporated his own furniture and object designs into the space, drawing connections between his work across different scales. Through detailed descriptions and illustrations, Blakely offers a fresh perspective on Zanuso’s contributions to postwar Italian design.