Università Roma Tre

From Modernism to the revival of Medieval architecture: history, studies and projects. Gustavo Giovannoni: urban restoration and decentralization of the residential neighbourhoods. It is possible to compare Giovannoni’s thoughts and interventions in the architectural field to interpret various aspects of his ideology on the ideal purpose and physical structure of the city. The debate on the “ambientismo” – fuelled by architects and honorary fellows, led by Giovannoni and the Associazione Artistica fra i Cultori di Architettura – recognise the historical architecture, as well as the picturesque feeling inherent the historical urban pattern, as a possible model both to thin out the urban pattern for a healthiness reason and to decentralize new residential districts. Therefore, the “ambientista” approach is clearly influenced by the urban principles of Camillo Sitte, Charles Buls and Joseph Stübben and by the idea of garden city of Ebenezer Howard and Raymond Unwin. Hence, between the 1910s and the 1920s, the ambientismo became the core principle of the urban and architectural project, identifying and reinterpreting the artistic and environmental features typical of each country, while considering the instances of modern building. It is possible to find this cultural orientation in various projects in Rome, such as San Saba, Aniene’s garden city in Montesacro, Ostia Nuova, the garden neighbourhood of Garbatella; all these projects were planned following Giovannoni’s theories and taking care of the relationship between “Vecchie città ed edilizia nuova”.

- P. Marconi, F. Giovanetti, E. Pallottino [a cura], "Manuale del Recupero del Comune di Roma", DEI, Roma 1989
- F. Giovanetti [a cura], "Manuale del Recupero del Comune di Roma", II edizione ampliata, DEI, Roma 1997
- P. Marconi, "Il restauro e l’architetto", Marsilio, Venezia 1993
- P. Marconi, "Materia e significato. La questione del restauro architettonico", Laterza, Bari 1999
- P. Marconi, "Il recupero della bellezza", Skira, Milano 2005
- F.R. Stabile, M. Zampilli, C. Cortesi [a cura], "Centri storici minori. Progetti per il recupero della bellezza", Gangemi editore, Roma 2009
- F.S. Stabile, "La Garbatella a Roma. Architettura e regionalismo", Editrice Librerie Dedalo, Roma 2012
- P. Marconi, "Restauro dei monumenti – Cultura, progetti e cantieri 1967-2010", Gangemi, Roma 2012
- M. Sabatino, "Orgoglio della modestia. Architettura moderna italiana e tradizione vernacolare", Franco Angeli Edizioni, Milano 2013
- G. De Pasquale, "Viaggio nel Mediterraneo. La costruzione di un paesaggio attraverso l’iconografia dello spazio architettonico", LetteraVentidue, Siracusa 2016

The course aims to accompany students in the final critical reflection on the different educational experiences in the three and two academic years in the restoration field. To this end, culture of architectural heritage themes, that already have been addressed during the studies (conservation, restoration and reconstruction in archaeology (era corretto anche come lo aveva scritto lei: gli inglesi però lo scrivono così), monumental, urban and architectural contexts regionalist) are subject of analysis. Also, during the semester, the students are offered a possible confrontation with the theoretical research on architectural design in the sub-class of Architectural and urban design. Lectures and design exercises are carried out with the support of specialized external collaborations (officials of public institutions, businesses and restorers).

Topics of the lectures

1. The philology as a methodological model for the archaeological and architectural restoration
2. Repeat, recovery and restoration: a culture of respect for tradition
3. Culture of places and recovery of the beauty of historic centres
4. The regionalist architecture and architectural restoration as replication
5. From the restoration to architecture: towards a new traditionalism

- Paolo Marconi, Francesco Giovanetti, Elisabetta Pallottino [a cura], "Manuale del Recupero del Comune di Roma", DEI, Roma 1989.
- Francesco Giovanetti [a cura], "Manuale del Recupero del Comune di Roma", II edizione ampliata, DEI, Roma 1997.
- Paolo Marconi, "Materia e significato. La questione del restauro architettonico", Laterza, Bari 1999.
- Elisabetta Pallottino [a cura], "Architetti e archeologi costruttori d’identità", “Ricerche di Storia dell’Arte”, n. 95, Roma 2008.
- D. Manacorda, R. Santangeli Valenzani, L. Franciosini, E. Pallottino, R. Volpe, S. Picciola, A. Carlini, P. Porretta [cura scientifica], "arch.it.arch - dialoghi di Archeologia e Architettura" - seminari 2005-2006, Quasar, Roma 2009.
- Francesca Romana Stabile, Michele Zampilli, Chiara Cortesi [a cura], "Centri storici minori. Progetti per il recupero della bellezza", Gangemi editore, Roma 2009.
- Francesca Romana Stabile, "La Garbatella a Roma. Architettura e regionalismo", Editrice Librerie Dedalo, Roma 2012.

The course entitled ‘Theories of Architectural Research’ intends to place itself within the teaching lines and research of the Architecture Department and its educational offer, and in direct connection with the cultural setting and the ideal inspirations of the Research Doctorate “Architecture: Heritage and Innovation”.
With the Course of ‘Theories of Architectural Research’ we intend to supply architecture students with a contribution in this direction, that is with the knowledge that Theory is a fundamental and autonomous part of the Architectural Discipline, through a set of specifically chosen Theories, individual reflections, books, manuals, constructed and paper projects. The Theory of Architecture is neither a “how to” guide nor a justification that follows the establishment of an architecture, but rather a stand-alone instance of architectural thought. The theory of architecture is therefore closely linked to the practice of architectural design and research.

-H.W. Kruft, Storia delle teorie architettoniche da Vitruvio al Settecento, Laterza, Bari-Roma, 1988
-G. Samonà (a cura di), AA.VV., Teoria della Progettazione Architettonica, Dedalo, Bari 1968
- M. Biraghi, G. Damiani, Le parole dell’architettura. Un’antologia di testi teorici e critici: 1945-2000, Einaudi, Torino 2009