Coppedè was born in
Florence, a son of
Mariano Coppedè and brother of
Adolfo Coppedè (also an architect, and occasional collaborator. Adolfo's most notable solo project was the
Castello Cova (also known as the Cova Viviani Palace) of
Milan). Gino's early education was at a
Pious School, and later he attended the local Florentine School of Industrial Decorative Arts, where he graduated with a diploma. He at first worked in his father's woodcarving studio between 1885 and 1890. It was here that his sculpture work developed, and he came into contact with various influential Tuscan architects. In 1889, he married Beatrice, daughter of sculptor
Pasquale Romanelli, with whom he had three daughters. His first main work was the
Mackenzie Castle in the
Castelletto quarter of
Genoa in 1890. The work was commissioned by Evan Mackenzie, a Genovese banker. This was to be his first major success, and as a result, he moved his family to Genoa. Thanks to MacKenzie, he received a number of commissions; and during this period, he was an occasional member of the Municipal Council of Genoa, on the town planning commission. In 1891, he entered the
Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, where he became professor of architectural design. Between 1890 and 1893, Coppedé worked on Count Marquis Puccio's hunting castle "Villa Puccio" in Capriata d’Orba. The 1.900 sqm building is today known as Villa Val Lemme. Several academic organizations granted him honorary degrees. He was named "Academic of Merit" at the
Accademia Ligustica of Genoa, later, Academician of the
"Pietro Vannucci" Perugia Academy of Fine Arts, then Academician for the
Academy of Fine Arts in Urbino" and also later assumed a doctorate from the Engineering School of Rome. Starting in 1917, Coppedè worked in Rome on a series of buildings in the Art Nouveau style, forming what would later be known as the
Quartiere Coppedè ("Coppedè Quarter"). In June of the same year, he became a professor of general architecture at the
University of Pisa. Also in 1919, he was engaged in the construction of buildings in Messina under the patronage of the banking company Fratelli Cerruti
Genoa. That year, he collaborated with his brothers on the decorative fitting out and furnishings of several ships owned by the
Lloyd Sabaudo and
Cosulich Triestina Navigation Company. At this time,
Gaetano Rapisardi, the Sicilian architect who had married one of his daughters, worked with him on several projects in his Roman studio. In 1920, he designed the Palazzo Galli in
Naples and the Villa Barsanti at
Pietrasanta, among others. In April 1920, his wife died in Genoa and the following December, his father, Mariano Coppedè. Gino, along with his brother Adolfo, then took over as directors of his father's studio "The House Artistica". Between 1920 and 1921, he worked together with Ing. Ugolotti and Ing. GL Mellucci on the preparations for a project to move the
main railway station of Rome. In 1921, in collaboration with his brother Adolfo, during his sojourn in
Lierna, he designed the Villa La Gaeta on
Lake Como. Coppedè began building the palatial residence of the Marquess of Motilla in
Seville in 1924. In 1926, he was appointed resident professor "emeritus" at the
Academy of Fine Arts, Florence in Florence. He died in Rome on 20 September 1927 after suffering from
gangrene of the lungs after complications following surgery. He is buried in the family tomb at the cemetery of San Miniato in Florence. == Commissions ==