It almost seems likea provocation, especially if written ina blog like this, entitled Where isthe Italian architecture, but it is thetruth; one of themost beautifulcontemporary buildingsof Rome,andwithcontemporary I meanbuiltin the last50-70years, was designed by aDanish architect.
It is not an ordinary building, but the Academy of Denmark, a gift from the Carlsberg Foundation, built on the design by architect Kay Fisker between 1962 and 1967 in the area of Valle Giulianear the pond of Villa Borghese, the National Gallery of Modern Art and the main Faculty of Architecture.
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| Images from the folding of the Academy |
In the websiteof the Academyyou can also findphotosof the inauguration, which took place withsolemn ceremonyon October 24,1967that Ipicked up andrepeatedbelow, for the record, but above all torealize howthe world has changedin these"few"years, which is quiteevident bothfrom clothingof the peopleand from the way of designing and constructingbuildings...
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| The inauguration of the Academy |
IreneDeGuttryin his guideto the architectureofmodernRomehas included thebuildingjustin the indexbetween the works ofLucianoRubino,thencitedas a co-designer, while PieroOstilio Rossirightlydevoted it a reportinwhich howeverdoesn’tmake any mentionofRubino’sparticipationto the project.Eventhe interestingsitearchidiaphasa web pagededicatedto the building, with drawings andphotos.
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| Images from archidiap and from the Guide of Rome by P.O.Rossi |
I got to enter the Academyon the occasionof aconcert by agroup of youngclassical musiciansfrom Denmark,which was heldin the smalland elegant auditorium, located under themain courtyardon the lowest floorof the building, characterizedby the white of the walls and the equipped ceilingand by the beautifulwooden floor.
It can be reached directly from the first ramp of the long external stairway and once inside you have in front a small courtyardwith a contemporary sculpture in travertineand on the right the entrance to the corridor of distribution, that lead through the building to an elongated patio onto which all the rooms of the lowerlevel.
It can be reached directly from the first ramp of the long external stairway and once inside you have in front a small courtyardwith a contemporary sculpture in travertineand on the right the entrance to the corridor of distribution, that lead through the building to an elongated patio onto which all the rooms of the lowerlevel.
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| External common areas |
The interior as well is characterized by therichness of materials, bricksforthe coating,wooden for doors andwindow frames, and of architectural detailsthat demonstrateaparticularattentionto the project andanuncommon sensitivity.
The building, despite its soliditygiven by thegeometric purityof the volumesand by the useratherextensive of a material"heavy"asthebrick is,has an articulationthatmakes itlighterandfull ofdifferent and fragmented perspectives.
The building, despite its soliditygiven by thegeometric purityof the volumesand by the useratherextensive of a material"heavy"asthebrick is,has an articulationthatmakes itlighterandfull ofdifferent and fragmented perspectives.
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| General views of the building from Via Omero |
It consists of three main blocks of different sizes and heights, placed in a non-symmetrical way around a courtyard, much elevated above the street level, which is accessed via a long staircase "z" shaped, consisting of three flights.
The scandinavian lesson is quite evident both in the importance given to the creation of outdoor areas and in the attention to the use of naturalmaterials and colors, always in harmony with the green, key to the overall quality of the building. |
| Details of brick claddingandpaving |
The beautifulstaircase leading to the main courtyard, almost entirely covered and paved with bricks, besides leading slowlytowards the center of the building, it offers a remarkable overview of the surroundings, the nearby Academies of Sweden and Romania to the whole complex of Valle Giulia and above the lush greenery you can see the Pompeian red of the Faculty of Architecture designed by Del Debbio and located just in front.
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| The views from the external stairway |
The Academy of Denmark is right at the bottom of Via Omero, a small street almost in altitude with the pond of Villa Borghese, that maybe we can call the street of the Academies, because walking along it you meet one after the other with the Egyptian, the Dutch, the Belgian, the Romanian and Swedish.
On the other side of the depression where Viale delle Belle Arti runs, there arethe British Schoolandthe Japanese InstituteofVia Gramsci,while a little'off in the last partofViale BrunoBuozziwe can find theAustrian Institute.
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| The area of Valle Giulia and the Academy of Denmark from Google Maps |
This area is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Rome and if I were a tourist, that actually I am even if I was born and have always lived here, I certainly would put it in my favorite routes, because it’s not possible to miss a walk in an area full of greenery between Villa Giulia, Villa Borghese and the National Gallery of Modern Art.