Through the work of the Italian architect, theorist and historian Paolo Portoghesi (1931-2023), this book offers a new perspective on postmodern architecture, showing the agency of other spheres of knowledge – history, politics and media – in the making of postmodern architectural discourse.
It explores how Portoghesi’s personal “postmodern project” was based on the triangulation of a renewed interest in historical architectural language, unprecedented use of media and intertwined links between architecture and politics. Organized in a sequence of critical chapters supported by the analysis of Portoghesi’s most significant architectural projects – including Casa Baldi (1959), The Mosque in Rome (1975–95) and his Strada Novissima exhibition (1980) – and publications, the book unfolds around the three main themes of history, politics and media.
Published as part of the Bloomsbury Studies in Modern Architecture series, which brings to light the work of significant yet overlooked modernist architects, the study features previously-unpublished archival material, interviews by the authors and articles from professional and mainstream press to present Portoghesi in his multifaceted role of mediator, politician, historian and designer.
List of illustrations Series preface Acknowledgements INTRODUCTION Italian postmodern architecture revisited State of the art Methodology and sources Structure Setting the scene 1 THE POSTMODERN PROJECT Impresario of postmodern architecture Choosing Rossi Mendini and the Banal Ideological duel with Tafuri Beyond Italy Galleria Apollodoro, a centre for Roman culture 2 TURN TO HISTORY Architect as historian/historian as architect Neoliberty polemic Instrumental value of the past Technique of lap dissolves Geometria borrominiana Casa Baldi, or the rehabilitation of the curve 3 SOCIALISM FOR FREEDOM Rise and leadership of the PSI Years of the protests Craxismo and the end of prohibitionism Staging the PSI Control over the lagoon The Mosque of Rome, between religion and oil 4 EMBRACING MASS MEDIA Mediatization of the building Ars oratoria Through the pages of the magazines Architecture on the dance floor From movie protagonist to stage set Casa Papanice framed by the camera EPILOGUE 1992 Annus horribilis Retreat to Calcata CODA By Maristella Casciato Notes Bibliography Index: Paolo’s world
Silvia Micheli is a senior lecturer at The University of Queensland, Australia Léa-Catherine Szacka is an architect, writer and Senior Lecturer in Architectural Studies at the University of Manchester, UK
