Marcello Piacentini
Encyclopedia
Marcello Piacentini was an Italian
architect and urban theorist.
, he was the son of architect Pio Piacentini
. When he was only 26 he was commissioned the revamping of the historical center of Bergamo
(1907); subsequently he worked in most of Italy, but his best work are those commissioned to him by the Fascist government in Rome.
Piacentini devised a "simplified neoclassicism" which could be midway from the neo-classicism of the Novecento Italiano
group (Gio Ponti
and others) and the rationalism of the Gruppo 7
of Giuseppe Terragni
, Adalberto Libera
and others. His style became a mainstay of Fascist architecture in Rome, including the new university campus (Università di Roma La Sapienza, 1932) and the E.U.R
district, of which he was not only designer, but also High Commissar by will of Benito Mussolini
. His other works include the renovation of Livorno
, the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia
in Reggio Calabria
, the opening of Via della Conciliazione
in Rome
and the restoration of the Rome Opera House
(1928–1958).
He was also professor of Urban Planning at La Sapienza, of which he was also President. After the fall of the Fascist regime he did not work as architect for several years. He died in Rome in 1960.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
architect and urban theorist.
Biography
Born in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, he was the son of architect Pio Piacentini
Pio Piacentini
Pio Piacentini was an Italian architect, the father of Marcello Piacentini. He is best known for his Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome.-Life:He was born in Rome and trained in the Academy of St. Luke....
. When he was only 26 he was commissioned the revamping of the historical center of Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
(1907); subsequently he worked in most of Italy, but his best work are those commissioned to him by the Fascist government in Rome.
Piacentini devised a "simplified neoclassicism" which could be midway from the neo-classicism of the Novecento Italiano
Novecento Italiano
Novecento Italiano was an Italian artistic movement founded in Milan in 1922 by Anselmo Bucci , Leonardo Dudreville , Achille Funi, Gian Emilio Malerba , Piero Marussig, Ubaldo Oppi and Mario Sironi...
group (Gio Ponti
Giò Ponti
Gio Ponti was one of the most important Italian architects, industrial designers, furniture designers, artists, and publishers of the twentieth century.-Early life:...
and others) and the rationalism of the Gruppo 7
Gruppo 7
Gruppo 7 was a group of Italian architects who wanted to reform architecture by the adoption of rationalism. It was formed in 1926 by Luigi Figini, Guido Frette, Sebastiano Larco, Giuseppe Pagano, Gino Pollini, Carlo Enrico Rava, Giuseppe Terragni and Ubaldo Castagnola, replaced the following year...
of Giuseppe Terragni
Giuseppe Terragni
Giuseppe Terragni was an Italian architect who worked primarily under the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini and pioneered the Italian modern movement under the rubric of Rationalism...
, Adalberto Libera
Adalberto Libera
Adalberto Libera is one of the most representative architects of the Italian Modern movement, which should not be confused with the Italian Rationalist movement, with which he only had a short-lived relationship....
and others. His style became a mainstay of Fascist architecture in Rome, including the new university campus (Università di Roma La Sapienza, 1932) and the E.U.R
Esposizione Universale Roma
EUR is a residential and business district in Rome, Italy, located south of the city center. The area was originally chosen in 1930s as the site for the 1942 world's fair which Benito Mussolini planned to open to celebrate twenty years of Fascism. EUR was also designed to direct the expansion of...
district, of which he was not only designer, but also High Commissar by will of Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
. His other works include the renovation of Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
, the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia
Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia
The Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia , Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria or Palazzo Piacentini is a museum in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy, housing an archaeological collection from sites in Magna Graecia.Initially formed with a nucleus of material ceded from the...
in Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, the opening of Via della Conciliazione
Via della Conciliazione
Via della Conciliazione is a street in the Rione of Borgo within Rome, Italy. Roughly 500 m in length, it connects Saint Peter's Square to the Castel Sant'Angelo on the western bank of the Tiber River. The road was constructed between 1936 and 1950, and it is the primary access route to the...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and the restoration of the Rome Opera House
Teatro dell'Opera di Roma
The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat Costanzi Theatre, it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements...
(1928–1958).
He was also professor of Urban Planning at La Sapienza, of which he was also President. After the fall of the Fascist regime he did not work as architect for several years. He died in Rome in 1960.
Works
- RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, church of Sacro Cuore di Cristo ReSacro Cuore di Cristo ReSacro Cuore di Cristo Re is a Roman Catholic church in Rome, designed between the 1920s and 1930s by Marcello Piacentini.- History :...
, 1920–1934 - Rome, restore of Teatro dell'Opera di RomaTeatro dell'Opera di RomaThe Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat Costanzi Theatre, it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements...
, 1926–1928 - Bolzano Victory Monument, 1928
- Reggio CalabriaReggio CalabriaReggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, Museo Nazionale della Magna GreciaMuseo Nazionale della Magna GreciaThe Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia , Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria or Palazzo Piacentini is a museum in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy, housing an archaeological collection from sites in Magna Graecia.Initially formed with a nucleus of material ceded from the...
, 1932–1941 - Rome, planning for Sapienza University of Rome campus, 1936
- Rome, Via della ConciliazioneVia della ConciliazioneVia della Conciliazione is a street in the Rione of Borgo within Rome, Italy. Roughly 500 m in length, it connects Saint Peter's Square to the Castel Sant'Angelo on the western bank of the Tiber River. The road was constructed between 1936 and 1950, and it is the primary access route to the...
, 1936–1950 - Rome, planning for EUR district, 1938–1942
- Rome, restore and facade Teatro dell'Opera di RomaTeatro dell'Opera di RomaThe Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat Costanzi Theatre, it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements...
, 1926–1928 - Rome, Teatro SistinaTeatro SistinaThe Teatro Sistina is a theatre in Rome, Italy.The building, designed by Marcello Piacentini, was begun in 1946 on the former site of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Polish Institute. It was inaugurated on 28 December 1949 as a cinema, but later become mostly used for theatrical and cabaret...
(1946-1949)