B031476 - History of Italian Contemporary Architecture II

English

The aim of the course is to offer an overview of the history of Italian architecture since 1861. The course fosters the development of critical thinking, knowledge and understanding about Italian architectural culture, its key protagonists, movements and buildings.

The course outlines the history of Italian architecture in the last 150 years, from the proclamation of the kingdom of Italy in 1861 to the recent outcomes of a country and its architectural culture in a globalized world. The course offers a multidisciplinary approach to architectural history, taking different points of view into consideration, such as art history, construction history, literature, cinema, religion, politics, society.

A general knowledge of the history of European architecture since the late-nineteenth century is required.

The course is comprised of lectures, seminars and readings. On-site visits in Firenze, Milano and/or Rome will be organized, if allowed by the developments of the current covid-19 pandemic.

Assessment and final exam: one written paper and an interview.
The written paper will analyze a single building, project, protagonist or book related to Italian architectural culture since 1861.
The interview will focus on one of the topics mentioned during the course.
Reviews of the written paper will be organized during the last weeks of the course.
The details will be discussed at the beginning of the lessons.

Course outline

1861–1914. The architecture of a new state

Torino, Firenze, Roma: The construction of three capital cities
Historicism, infrastructures and new technologies: Galleries, markets, railway stations
Liberty from Palermo to Torino: A new way to applied arts
A monument for the dead king: The long construction of the Vittoriano
Before the war: Futurism and its utopias

1922–43. Building and planning for a totalitarian regime

Translating modernism: manifestos, exhibitions and debates
The language of a regime: The hegemony of Marcello Piacentini
Fascist typologies: case del fascio, case del balilla, colonie per l’infanzia
Italy abroad: Colonialism, cities and the empire
Building in the lowlands: Agro Pontino, EUR and new settlements
Fascist architecture: A difficult heritage for Italy?

1945–80. From postwar to postmodern

Building after the bombs: The reconstruction of cities and cultural heritage
Looking for traditions: “The Italian retreat from modern architecture”
Housing and religion for the people: The INA-Casa neighborhoods and new churches
Connecting the country: highways, bridges, infrastructures
The architecture of an engineer: The works of Pier Luigi Nervi
Culture in display: Museums by Carlo Scarpa, Franco Albini and BBPR
Radical architecture: Superstudio and Archizoom
Aldo Rossi and la Tendenza: Archetypes and context

Since 1980. Italy in a global world

The swansong of postmodernism: La Strada Novissima
Italians home and abroad: Key architects and projects
Archistars in Italy: Architecture as a brand
Architecture and temporary events: Expo, Biennale, Catholic Jubilee, Olympic Games

For a general overview on the history of Italian contemporary architecture:

Kirk, Terry. Architecture of Modern Italy: The Challenge of Tradition, 1750–1900. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2005.

Kirk, Terry. Architecture of Modern Italy: Visions of Utopia, 1900-present. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2005.

For an overview on the history of Italian fascist architecture, see:

Jones, Kay Bea, and Stephanie Pilat, eds. The Routledge Companion to Italian Fascist Architecture. London/New York: Routledge, 2020.

Further readings on specific topics will be provided to the students at the end of each lecture.

Further readings and materials will be provided by the teacher during the course.