The Last Grand Tour: Contemporary Phenomena and Strategies of Living in Italy

Italy has a rich history of influencing Western architecture and culture. This book explores Italy today, focusing on housing as a hub, offering new narratives and perspectives on current issues and developments. It examines housing as a complex construct, considering interests, needs, and historical legacies, and proposes strategies for affordable housing in 21st-century Italy. The book is designed for a broad audience, including professionals and those interested in housing and 21st-century Italy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 500 pages
Publication date: 16 August 2023
Publisher: Park Books

Since ancient times, Italy has been the cradle of fundamental themes in Western architecture and culture, many of which have developed in exemplary and universally valid ways. Many of these continue to serve as an inspiring framework for us today. This comprehensive and visually appealing book takes a nuanced look at Italy today, emulating the tradition and itinerary of the classic Grand Tour of European aristocrats. Around the theme of housing as a hub, it offers new narratives and perspectives on current issues and developments that are highly relevant beyond Italy.

In the format of a graphic and textual atlas, the volume explores Italy at various scales. Zooming in and out of themes, cities, and regions, it allows for associative and non-linear comprehension and reflection. Housing is examined as a complex construct, acted upon by diverging interests and needs as well as historical legacies. The spatial aspect of living, with its immense impact on the limited resource of land and the landscape, serves as the starting point for the proposals and strategies the book offers. Its audience extends beyond the professional architecture community, aiming at anyone with an interest in the much-debated topic of (affordable) housing and in 21st-century Italy.

Dimension: 320 x 235 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783038603238