ROME: The history of stitching
…a research project aiming to disclose the city behind the ancient remains - an X-ray of the aggregated historical fabric of Rome which suggests a strange network of social and physical relationships…
Tuesday 28 October 2014
Sunday 21 September 2014
DAY 10: Collage City of Rome
11.07.2014
Casa di Cola di Rienzo Deatil |
Another fascinating example of how the city of Rome has been growing and
overgrowing itself in every aspect, from urban to political, is the so-called
Casa di Cola di Rienzo. This building is an end of an urban block redeveloped
by Mussolini, and the only remain from the Middle Ages in this area, that the
dictator chose to keep. Across the street from the Temple of Portunis and the
Temple of Hercules Victor, the early 11th century Casa di Cola di
Renzo is shadowed by glorious architecture from the time of the Empire. But it is
telling us much more.
Thursday 18 September 2014
DAY 9: Rebuilding of rebuilt
10.07.2014
While trying to define “formal” in regard to ancient approach to Rome, it should be said that the city of Rome is very much not the ideal city envisioned by Emperors and their architects in Antiquity. Wherever Romans were building cities from scratch, they were building grid-based urbanities. It could be argued, in that sense, that the attempts to formalise Rome have been made throughout history from the Empire to the rule of the Popes, later monarchs and republicans.
Santa Maria Maggiore. Photo:MM |
While trying to define “formal” in regard to ancient approach to Rome, it should be said that the city of Rome is very much not the ideal city envisioned by Emperors and their architects in Antiquity. Wherever Romans were building cities from scratch, they were building grid-based urbanities. It could be argued, in that sense, that the attempts to formalise Rome have been made throughout history from the Empire to the rule of the Popes, later monarchs and republicans.
Wednesday 17 September 2014
THE BRIEF: Moments of Rome
The history of stitching is exploring the nature of
never-ending overlay of Rome as a city and it is searching for paradox and informality
in its historical aggregation.
The challenge is to make a
distinction between interventions which aim to formalize the urban order even
though the way they are executed appears as an informal intervention.
Mussolini’s insertion of Via dei Fori Imperiali which establishes a straight corridor
between the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia (1924 – 1932) is clearly an attempt to
formalize the city. This intervention was, on the other hand, done through
imposition of a street on top of a series of Imperial Forums, splitting them in
half and creating a strange set of leftovers in the most ad-hoc fashion.
In front of you is a small
selection of urban details, photographs taken in July 2014 in Rome. They are a
piece of a wider research about forms of architectural survival. Between
definitions of formal and informal transformation of Rome, “stitching” is
defined as a never ending, historical, process of change, physical, social and
political.
5 moments of Rome...
5 moments of Rome...
Saturday 30 August 2014
AGENDA 2: Historical Formalities
10.07.2014
A view towards the begging of Via dei Fori Imperiali |
If this research is exploring the nature of never-ending overlay of Rome
as a city, it is completely logical to search for informality in its historical
aggregation. The more I am digging, however, the harder is to find anything but
informality in the urban development of Rome. This is forcing me to establish more
clearly what is, in fact, formal.
Saturday 2 August 2014
DAY 8: Baths of Agrippa
09.07.2014
Down the road from the Pantheon, in one of the narrow streets behind it,
I almost accidentally spotted a strange leftover. In the elevation of the street
I saw a tall and thick wall which clearly stood there since the Ancient Rome.
It was cutting the street elevation at two places, in fact being a
semi-circular structure. I could tell that it was not part of a city wall as it
was deep inside the centre of Rome and that it was probably a remain of a large
public building. I could not tell, however, what set of circumstances led to its
survival, while the rest is gone without a trace. The street came around it and
alienated a surviving vault of a Roman Bath.
Monday 21 July 2014
DAY 8: The Pantheon 2
09.07.2014
My first stop today was again the Pantheon. This time I came from the
front with a big ice cream. I sat on the side of the entrance in a playful area
with big pieces of marble placed randomly, suggesting that people could sit on
them and finish their ice creams before entering the holy interior. As I made
myself comfortable some children as well started running around and climbing
the stones. An angry guard then came along and shouted at all of us. He said
something about “gelato” (ice cream) and “national treasure” and me being a coward.
I understand I was sitting in an area of immense archaeological or national importance
and I should move from there. Only then I spotted signs prohibiting access to
the narrow site.
Wednesday 16 July 2014
DAY 7: The Pantheon 1
I approached the Pantheon from the back. It felt like approaching a
well-known person, a bit awkward and uncomfortable. I had to remain rational. The
cinematic experience, which excluded a front view of the monumental entrance, initially
broke all the visions of the space that I had somewhere in my conscious. I even
lost the sense that the Pantheon is round. Approached from the back, the first
thing one sees is a square extension and a deep excavated area around the
building. The traces of marble cladding and the former exterior glory are
visible only around the entrance.
DAY 6: Respect
07.07.2014
Largo Santa Sussana Elevation |
The city both benefits and suffers from millions of people pouring in on annual basis for no other reason than walking around, eating ice cream and taking most tasteless photographs (hugging statues and columns, posing in front of frescos and fountains). For every urban and social phenomenon discovered in Rome, church inevitably plays a role as a stake holder. Seen as a trend-setter for what we consider morality and promoting the only set of values that will help humanity survive, the church in Rome is in a funny position, squeezed between international, globalized, modern society and itself.
Sunday 13 July 2014
AGENDA 1: Historical Informalities
Historical Informa |
The relationship between domestic and public across European cities has
been a changing aspect of urban culture and mentality. Aldo van Eyck, while
involved in CIAM and Team 10 describes London as a wonderful place where
children play on the streets and domestic occupations spreads outside the walls
of the terraced and mews houses with flowers, chairs and tables taking over
portions of public space.
Friday 11 July 2014
Thursday 10 July 2014
Friday 4 July 2014
DAY 3: The Vatican
03.07.2014
Inside the Vatican. Photo:MM |
On my way to the Vatican today, I was aiming to document another “black
hole” of the city of Rome, an alienating site which takes away urban life and
growth. Approaching the St. Peter’s Square along the remains of the Leonine
Wall and occasionally stepping into the Borgo district, I was convinced the exact
opposite.
Thursday 3 July 2014
DAY 2: De-Fence
02.07.2014
After two days on the streets of Rome I am beginning to step out of a
Woody Allen movie and try to look for intriguing moments of the city beyond tourists and their well-established routes. Two things grabbed my attention as
I was avoiding site entrances and looking over the edges of archaeological sites...
Wednesday 2 July 2014
DAY 1: We, the Americans...
Today is my first day in Rome. My initial aim is to see what the Romans do
in their everyday life so I don’t do anything they would find strange. First
impressions are good, Rome is a good cultural fusion mainly between Romans and
Americans. At first sight, they don’t do anything unusual for someone who came
from London, apart from the cycling habits - they speak on a mobile phone while
cycling and they don’t seem to bother with safety equipment such as helmets and
lycra outfits. My London influenced preconception of Romans was that they
usually gather in large groups in front of PRIMARK or the British Museum. They
are in fact almost invisible in their own city.
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