Rationalist Rome

EUR (Esposizione Universale Romana) was designed as a modern, innovative district featuring spectacular perspectives and majestic metaphysical architecture in preparation for the 1942 world’s fair in Rome. The new urban development, a focal point for propaganda combining culture, economics and politics, was located in an area served by the new Metro system.

Designed by Enrico Del Debbio and built between 1927 and 1933, the Foro Italico complex was only completed after the end of World War II. The complex, characterised by its monumental structure, huge obelisk and large marble statues donated by various Italian provinces, is located at the foot of Monte Mario.

Città Universitaria (University City), designed to concentrate the “cradle of knowledge” in a single location, was inaugurated in 1937. The result of work by some of the most important architects of the time (Michelucci, Ponti, Rapisardi and Pagano), it was designed based on guidelines laid down by the traditionalist architect Marcello Piacentini. Hence, the repetition of simple elements, the rectangular windows repeated on the façades and the full bodies of masonry and stone. Piacentini’s ideas echo strongly throughout the entire complex: the desire for an unadorned classicism, in which the aspect of monumentality nevertheless remains very prominent.

The City Development Plan envisaged, among other things, the decentralisation of services outside of the city’s historic core. Calls for tender were therefore issued for the construction of new post office buildings in Piazza Bologna, Via Marmorata, Via Taranto and Viale Mazzini. This resulted in works of construction by the most important architects (Libera, De Renzi and Ridolfi, among others), which are still recognised today as landmarks for entire districts.