The Bassanini heirs, in partnership with the Municipality of Varese and in collaboration with ANCE Varese and the "Amici di Piero Chiara" Association, present the second stage of the exhibition dedicated to "Antonio Bassanini Builder of the Twentieth Century". This exhibition, curated by Chiara Bassanini , Giovanna Franco Repellini and Andrea Strambio de Castillia, takes place in the spaces of the Castle of Masnago and the headquarters of the ANCE in Varese. The objective of the exhibition is to continue to spread, promote and deepen the figure of Antonio Bassanini and his relevant activity entrepreneurial.

The path to valorise Bassanini began in 2019 with the publication of the volume "Antonio Bassanini. Costruttore del Novecento", published by Silvana Editoriale, and continued in 2022 with the creation of the exhibition dedicated to the builder at the ADI Design Museum in Milan and in 2023 with the creation of the website (www.antoniobassaniniarchivio.it), conceived as an information platform on the various activities of the Bassanini archive and with an interactive map of all its Italian construction projects.

The objective of the Varese exhibition is to spread the history of the figure of the builder, often little considered compared to the personalities of architects and designers, but who, as in the case of Bassanini, had a central role in the urban development of Lombardy and Italy. Collaborating with architects and engineers such as Zacchi, Figini and Pollini, Portaluppi, Gio Ponti, Muzio and later Mattioni, Caccia Dominioni, Soncini and Magistretti, Bassanini with his company, which in the 1930s managed up to twenty large construction sites simultaneously and 3,000 workers, was a fundamental trait d'union between architectural design and building construction. Through the use of innovative materials, cutting-edge machinery, study of construction techniques and excellent entrepreneurial organisation, he has created public and private buildings that have changed the face of the peninsula. He has also demonstrated great modernity, taking an interest in all aspects of the construction chain, starting from workplace safety and workforce training, up to administrative, legal and insurance issues, so much so that he has held the role of President and Vice President of the ANCE (National Association of Building Contractors) for Northern Italy and between 1951 and 1954 that of President of Assimpredil (Association of Building and Complementary Companies in the provinces of Milan, Lodi, Monza and Brianza). Antonio Bassanini's generous nature and commitment to good works make him Vice President of the UCID (Christian Union of Business Managers) and an active supporter of Christian Democracy; he was, in fact, always animated by a profound civil and political passion, aimed at the well-being and growth of the country.