No Roman holiday is complete without this new guide to the city’s modern architecture
Modern Rome is the newest publication from Blue Crow Media’s growing collection of architectural city guides and detailed maps. We take a tour
Your latest cartographic assignment from Blue Crow Media is this map of modern Rome, a guide to over 50 examples from among the eternal city’s best-known and most impressive 20th-century architecture.
Liceo-ITIS Alessandro Volta Roma, Luigi Pellegrin (architect), 1983
Mappa di Roma Moderna has been edited by the architect and author Jacopo Costanzo, while Stefano Perego has contributed original photography, showing these buildings in their contemporary state. The folded map is the newest addition to a long-running series of architectural city maps and monographs – see also BCM’s guide to Brutalist Boston and Concrete Montreal amongst many others.
Aqua-Blue Building, Via Bari, Renato Valle (architect), 1958
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Visitazione, Saverio Busiri Vici (architect), 1971
Rome’s contemporary gems are spliced into a cityscape that’s evolved over millennia, with the outer suburbs better represented with contemporary work. One of the cradles of both modernism and rationalism, the city has an impressive collection of contemporary churches and public infrastructure, as well as large-scale housing by the likes of Carlo Aymonino, Mario De Renzi and Studio Passarelli.
Centro Idrico Eur, Francesco Palpacelli (architect ) and Giorgio Romaro (structural engineer), 1989
British Embassy in Rome, Sir Basil Spence (architect), 1971
Other highlights include Luigi Moretti's Palazzina Girasole, the Palazzetto dello Sport by the famed structural engineer Pier Luigi Nervi, and Sir Basil Spence’s British Embassy. Blue Crow’s maps are a must for the modern architectural tourist, providing insight and context into the major 20th century works that have shaped European cities, whilst also highlighting overlooked gems that are due for a revival.
Accademia di Danimarca (Danish Academy), Kay Fisker (architect), 1967
Ponte Morandi, Riccardo Morandi (architect), 1968
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Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.