Italian Imprints on Twentieth-Century Architecture

Italian architecture has significantly influenced architectural ideas across the world, from the Beaux-Arts academies' reverence for Rome to modernist and postmodern interest in Renaissance proportion, Baroque space, and Mannerist ambiguity. This book critically examines this enduring phenomenon, exploring the privileged position of Italian architects, architecture, and cities in the architectural culture of the past century. It questions the deep-rooted myth of Italy within architectural history and presents case studies of Italy's powerful yet problematic position in 20th-century architectural ideologies. Twenty chapters from distinguished international scholars cover subjects and architects ranging from Alberti to Gio Ponti, Aldo Rossi, Manfredo Tafuri, Vittorio Gregotti, and cities from Rome and Venice to Milan. The book examines where and how the disciplinary edifice of 20th-century architecture relied on Italian foundations, examining where and how those foundations have become insecure.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 28 December 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Italian architecture has had a profound impact on the development of architectural ideas across the world, spanning from the Beaux-Arts academies' reverence for Rome to modernist and postmodern interests in Renaissance proportions, Baroque spaces, and Mannerist ambiguity. This book delves critically into this enduring phenomenon, exploring the privileged position of Italian architects, architecture, and cities in the architectural culture of the past century. It challenges the deep-rooted myth of Italy within architectural history, presenting case studies of Italy's powerful yet problematic position in 20th-century architectural ideologies. At a time when established Eurocentric narratives are being challenged, the book reconciles the privileged position of Italian architecture and design with the imperative to write history across a more global, diverse, and heterogeneous cultural geography.

Spanning twenty chapters authored by distinguished international scholars, the book covers a wide range of subjects and architects, including Alberti, Gio Ponti, Aldo Rossi, Manfredo Tafuri, and Vittorio Gregotti. It explores cities such as Rome, Venice, and Milan, as well as the international architects, movements, and architectural ideas influenced by Italy. Each chapter questions where, how, and why the disciplinary edifice of 20th-century architecture relied on Italian foundations, examining where and how those foundations have become insecure.

Italian Imprints on Twentieth-Century Architecture is an invaluable resource for students and scholars of both Italian and global architectural history. It offers a fresh perspective on the architectural and urban landscape of Italy, enabling readers to consider it from entirely new angles. By examining the profound influence of Italian architecture on the world, this book contributes to our understanding of the rich and complex history of architecture and urban development.

Weight: 736g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350257764