Villino Raby
A refined Art Nouveau villa designed by architect Pietro Fenoglio, showcasing the expressive decorative language of early-20th-century Turin through architectural detail and interior ornament.
At a glance
The Villino Raby is a compact urban villa commissioned by Michele Raby and designed by one of Piedmont’s most inventive architects. The building exemplifies the material and spatial experimentation characteristic of Turin’s progressive design culture around 1900, combining geometric planning with sculptural architectural elements.
History
Pietro Fenoglio (1865–1927) received the commission from Michele Raby to design this residence, which was constructed with notable departures from the original project. Engineer Gottardo Gussoni (1869–1951) oversaw execution of the bay window and other key structural elements, introducing variations in moldings, balustrades, and wrought ironwork that distinguish the built villa from Fenoglio’s initial conception.
The villa originally functioned as a private residence before serving as a private school in the 1980s. It was subsequently acquired by the Order of Doctors and Dentists of the Province of Turin (OMCeO), which undertook comprehensive restoration between 2012 and 2013.
What you see
The villa displays an irregular plan composed of several adjoining volumes. A projecting bay window frames the entrance, while a generous veranda with terrace and garden staircase activate the lower facade. The upper level features a service entrance opening onto a small terrace with descent to the garden.
Interior decoration was executed by Ernesto Domenico Smeriglio, who participated in Turin’s 1902 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative Art. Gussoni contributed decorative elements in artificial stone and collaborated on a sculptural frieze of horses frescoed by Smeriglio beneath the eaves of the rear stables building. The original entrance gate has been lost; the wrought iron driveway gate survives.
Cultural significance
The Villino Raby demonstrates the collaborative and iterative nature of Turin’s early-modern design practice. The interplay between Fenoglio’s architectural vision and Gussoni’s engineering input—evident in the building’s emphatic plastic modeling—reflects broader currents in northern Italian Art Nouveau. The use of applied ornament, artificial stone, and sculptural detail links the villa to other Gussoni commissions and to Turin’s cosmopolitan decorative arts culture of the period.
Key facts
- Address: Corso Francia, 8, 10143 Turin
- Coordinates: 45.0766034, 7.6660803
- Architect: Pietro Fenoglio; engineer Gottardo Gussoni
- Interior decoration: Ernesto Domenico Smeriglio
- Period: Early 20th century
- Current use: Headquarters of the Order of Doctors and Dentists of the Province of Turin (OMCeO)
- Recent restoration: 2012–2013
Practical information
The villa now serves as the headquarters of OMCeO and is not typically open to public visits. For information about access or guided tours, consult the official website or contact OMCeO directly.
Getting there
The Villino Raby is located on Corso Francia in the Cit Turin neighbourhood. You can reach it by public transport; Turin’s robust tram and bus network provides convenient access to this central district.
Sources & resources
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