- R O M A N
Piazza Pasquino
Piazza Farnese
Piazza Navona
P I A Z Z A -
The project developed from two distinct efforts. In an independent study, I researched and analyzed serveral piazzas in Rome. The research was a comparative analysis aimed at understanding the change in the way the spaces were used. The analysis served as the pre-thesis research for the revitalization of an existing piazza space that currently functions as a parking lot. The design problem also drew ideas from the different urban studies of the city that were conducted throughout the semester. The piazzas of Rome are interesting in the way that they are all variations on a theme: they are open spaces within the dense urban fabric that accommodate a range of activities. By form and definition, it is a public domain, a place of passage, rest or assembly for citizens traveling alone or in groups. They have had a presence in Rome since antiquity, with the intention of servicing the city’s commerce, government and religion. Typically, the piazzas were the settings for important civic buildings, palaces, churches, and sometimes became semi-public appendages to a private residence. Over time and with the development of the city, the use of the spaces changed. Things like streets and cars and other infrastructure began to alter the way in which these spaces were used. In the comparative analysis, three categories of piazzas were chosen - Setting (Piazza Farnese), Parking lots (Piazza Pasquino), and Activity Centers (Piazza Navona) - and analyzed as models to illustrate the change of the activities over time, referring to such issues as their historical context, scale, the programmatic arrangement of the spaces around the piazzas, circulation, and density. In developing my own response to the Via Giulia Piazza, the comparative analysis played an important role. It provided perspective on the livelihood of the context as well as the opportunity to understand how these public spaces can take shape in so many different ways. Similarly, the Roman Pathway project also contributed to the design, providing insight over the cinematic qualities of the city.
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