By Laura Muntean
Introduction
When walking down a street or strada in Rome, it is easy to think about the Roman Empire quite often. Whether it’s visiting the Colosseum or grabbing a gelato in the local piazza, the sights and structures of the city are an ode to Rome’s rich and ancient history. Different from Paris, London or Copenhagen, Rome has not only preserved its old construction but also has maintained its historical continuity. Rome’s landscape remains free of modern high-rises and quite limited in its new construction, especially construction emerging in the 21st century. In addition to its limited new construction, Rome has transformed its history into something inhabitable and every changing for today’s current environment, which allows the city to remain up-and-coming, a place worth visiting for more than its historic sites and ancient relics. The city’s landscape holds on to its infamous history while continuing to grow and evolve into a city that makes any tourist want to return. The emphasis on preservation of history is not an accident for Rome’s architecture. Dating back to before the unification of Italy, Rome’s popes have made it law that no building shall be built taller than St. Peter’s Basilica, which stands at 448 ft tall, and this law is just one of many that limits and narrows the ways in which new construction can find its footing in the Eternal City. This study aims to explore the use of retrofitting as opposed to new construction as a means of building in Rome, diving into the evolution of construction methods throughout Rome’s history and exploring the rules and regulations around restoration and retrofitting in Rome today. We will look at the current projects of Istituto Geologico Nazionale and the Grand Hotel de La Minerve as well as the formerly refurbished Grotta Pinta structure to explore the ways in which a building can be enhanced and reused while preserving its exterior structure to maintain its outward appearance, historical significance and charm that makes Rome the Eternal City both to this day and for future generations.
Advancements in Retrofitting
A question we can explore is how has retrofitting changed over the decades and even centuries. Buildings have been abandoned, reused, and revamped since the time of Ancient Rome but the methods of doing so have vastly changed. Looking back the past centuries, since the rise of the Roman Empire, Romans used a simple yet effective mode of construction when it came to a building that no longer fit their use. For many centuries, when a structure no longer was in use or fit the needs of the people, it was filled with nearby dirt and debris and the new structure was built atop of it. This simple yet effective way of building is what has led to Rome’s complex archeological situation in which there are layers and layers of history built on top of another, to which Romans often refer to as the “lasagna” type history that lies beneath their city.
As time went on, Romans repurposed many materials they had already available to rebuild and restore their city, making ancient Roman ruins the building blocks for many structures we see in Rome today. A common practice in ancient Roman construction was to use bricks to form walls in which concrete was poured and then covered with materials such as plaster, marble or travertine to create an aesthetically pleasing facade. (Bailey, 2022) Even before the use of concrete, the Romans used tufa, a volcanic stone to build and in later years utilized travertine for its durable nature and its ability to be substituted for marble because of its off-white color. (Amber, 2015) These different layers of materials are what made many structures in Rome structurally sound and what allows us to see these structures today, even after centuries of many earthquakes most of Rome’s structures are still standing. These structures can be dated back by referring to the emperor’s stamp which was left on bricks. Adriano Morabito, the lead archeologist of Rome Sotterranea, oftentimes structures are studied that contain bricks with different emperor’s stamps due to the repurposing of materials from an old structure to a new one. In addition to the reuse of old materials, Roman architecture differed from other empires such as the Egyptians, Greeks and Persians because of their movement away from the post and lintel system in which builders used two columns and a horizontal block laid across and towards their trademark discoveries and uses of concrete, arches and vaulting. (Amber, 2015) These innovations allowed Rome to create not only impressive landscapes like other empires, but also meaningful and useful interiors that still serve their purpose today. The materials and methods used to build Rome is what makes the city stand today. With its arches, bricks and unique blend of concrete that contains the volcanic rock tufa, many of Rome’s structures are incredibly and accidentally over-engineered that provide such structural stability that they are able to be safe and inhabitable even by today’s standards.
Map 1: Theatrum of Pompey (Lown, 2017)
The practice of adaptive reuse, which we will revisit when discussing current retrofitting practices in Rome is one that was most prevalent in the Middle Ages, after the fall of the Roman Empire. This practice of adaptive reuse came about as a means of using deserted buildings that previously served a purpose in the Empire and turning them into something of use in their new cultural and historical environment, that its old construction no longer met the needs of. Leaving the Middle Ages and transitioning to the Renaissance, the method of building onto existing structures emerged. Now with more knowledge of structural stability, Rome’s inhabitants during the Renaissance were able to create new structures from the old and this practice is what we see on many sites in Rome today. Above we see a map of the original theater and below we see the current apartments in its place. We can see in the example of the Via di Grotta Pinta apartment building, located right between the Campo dei Fiori piazza and Largo Argentina, how the existing structure of the Theatrum of Pomey was used to create the structure that today serves as apartment buildings. Commissioned in 55BC for Pomey the Great, one of Rome’s leading generals, this theater shown in the map below was the first permanent theater in Rome and its construction spared no expense importing large quantities of marble from Asia. (Lown, 2017) Although the theater did not stay fully preserved, but enough of its structure remained intact that we can still see its original semi-circle ‘cavea” that shapes the Via di Grotta Pinta apartments that occupy the space today. These apartment are just one example of how Rome’s landscape is not just influenced but built on ancient Roman architecture. The methods and materials used to build Rome, are the reason we can still enjoy the city today, with all its history and charm and when observing Rome’s architecture it is no surprise that Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Figure 1: Via di Grotta Pinta (Pelati, 2018)
Retrofitting in Rome Today
Retrofitting a historical building in Rome is a common practice to take an otherwise obsolete structure and transform it into a building that can be useful in the current climate of Rome, with projects ranging from residential housing all the way to museums and retail stores. This form of retrofitting can be referred to as “adaptive reuse” meaning “a way to preserve historic buildings so that they can continue to shape the community and receive the maintenance and upkeep they need so that they will be preserved for future generations,” keeping Rome alive and current but still beautiful and historic in its architecture. (Bailey, 2022) Retrofitting is one of the largest practices in the building industry in Rome, and with that comes many rules and regulations that control how a building can be changed and most importantly, what is required to remain unchanged. Rome’s current government has its own department, named the “Supraintendenza,” dedicated to preserving the historical significance of construction in the city. The department has rules stating that no structural changes can be made to the exterior of a building deemed historic all the way to rules that prevent the owners from changing the color of a building’s exterior from its original color. Based on these reasons, retrofitting tends to be the primary mode of construction in the heart of Rome to this day. We will now look at two current projects happening in Rome to further explore the methods and scope of retrofitting in Rome. When hearing about all the rules and regulations surrounding retrofitting in Rome one may as “Why bother? Why not expand and find untouched land to develop new construction?”. The answer is quite simple, new construction can pose a even greater challenge in terms of legislation and permitting. It is extremely complicated to find a building that can be demolished for a new build and the ones that are were commonly constructed in the 60’s/70’s. As for the ground you are building on, the archeological museum that laws beneath the current city of Rome, the exploration and excavation required to break ground can be quite strenuous and costly.
Grand Hotel de La Minerve
Overlooking the Pantheon in Piazza di Santa Chiara, and minutes away from the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps is the famous Grand Hotel de la Minerve. This five star hotel sits in a mansion dating back to the 1600’s and is known for its luxury experience that pays tribute to the timeless and historic attributes of Roman design while providing a modern and comfortable stay to its elite clientele. The hotel is currently under construction to be retrofitted and remodeled to better meet the needs of its customers by enhancing its appeal of a both traditional but upkept design. Arsenals S.p.A has taken on this project in hopes of preserving its renowned timeless and luxurious architecture while keeping the hotel as a current competitor in the industry of five star hotels in Rome.
Figures 2-9: Construction of the Grand Hotel de La Minerve
In these images above we can see the preservation of history, class and charm as the site is being remodeled into something that fits the modernity standards of a five star hotel in the 21st century. In accordance with the building laws in Rome, the contractor of this site is fully preserving the exterior of this space, along with many of the iconic ceilings and columns that line the hotel. Per Rome’s building code, the client must maintain all exterior windows, walls and original color which pushes limits on the proposed design, but like many projects in Rome, the limits tend to be worth the outcome. This project encapsulates the ways in which builders in Rome use retrofitting and adaptive reuse as a way of keeping its structures both current and useful while still maintaining their outward charm and leaving Rome’s architectural landscape unchanged.
Figures 10-12: MEP systems of Grand Hotel de La Minerve in MagiCAD (MagiCAD Group, 2024)
In addition to its updated interior design and stylish finishes, this remodeling project uses advanced technology to retrofit its mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, which we will refer to as MEP systems. These changes, although costly, are typically needed in older structures to allow a building to function at its full capacity for its current use given the electrical systems needed to power modern equipment and technology. According to Rilo Digital Planning, an engineering company that specializes in MEP design and digital solution and the firm entrusted with both the design and construction management of the new MEP system, “the project [has] a very high degree of complexity, because the team needed to accommodate both the historical, architectural, and decorative aspects of the building and the technical system demands of a luxury hotel.” (MagiCAD Group, 2024) Beyond the city of Rome’s policies, taking on the remodeling of such a historic structure comes with its own challenges. Structurally, contractors don’t always know what awaits them and starting a project like this hotel can be a liability for both the client and the contractor as what can be uncovered upon construction can raise costs and often lead to unexpected responsibilities and construction delays. We see in the example of the renovation of the Grand Hotel de la Minerve, the complex chanllgegs that come with retrofitting and refurbishing a historic structure and the effort and intricate skill it takes to keep Rome both preserved and moving forward.
Istituto Geologico
Figure 13: Exterior drawing of Istituto Geologico Nazionale (Aakhon, n.d.)
In the image above we see the existing exterior of Istituto Geologico Νajjoagja. The structure was built some time between 1873 and 1879 in Largo di Santa Susanna and used for Rome’s Ministry of Agriculture and has since been converted in to the Geological Institute it served as before its restoration began in 2019, from which it will become the Geological Agricultural Museum and the Royal Geological Office.. ArcoEngineering Srl is the client of the recovery project of this site in which “the design activities were aimed at the restoration and conservative rehabilitation of the building, taking into account the various preexisting and typological complexities.” (Salinetti) Started almost 5 years ago, this project is one of the greatest examples of iron architecture in Rome today and work continues on the site today. “As can also be seen from the writing on its main facade, In the central part of the structure you can see the large stained glass windows with iron frames, while on the side walls appear a series of decorations with geometric sequences.” writes Stefano Salinetti, the architectural journalist for Urbanfile. (Salinetti, 2021)
Figures 14-25: Restoration of Istituto Geologico Nazionale (IRCOP, 2022)
The images above show both the interior work and the exterior restoration done on the building thus far. This extensive project serves as an example of adaptive reuse, and how instead of opting for demolition and rebuilding, the owners are using the existing site to be repurposed into a museum that maintains the former historical significance but adapting the ways in which the building operates. In this case, because the existing building is not truly ancient, as in dating back to the Roman Empire, there is an allowable amount of exterior work that can be done on the building. This project shows the ways in which, even in cases where regulations do not prevent a building from changing its design, exterior structures are selectively retrofitted and restored to preserve their original facade.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rome’s beautiful and ancient architecture is what makes the city what it is today, but inversely, what Rome is today is dependent on the preservation of its architecture. The ways in which Rome has remained the Eternal City is largely due to its use of retrofitting and restoration of the old and the cities continued effort of reusing its ancient structures to keep the city alive and evolving with its current needs. We owe the preservation of Rome to both the construction that keeps Rome the city that we keep coming back to but also the Romans who build a city that survived centuries of wars, earthquakes, disaster and stayed standing. The current methods of retrofitting and restoration that we see in the current projects of Grand Hotel de La Minerve and Istituto Geologico Nazionale as well the existing Via di Grotta Pinta apartments built on the Theatrum of Pomey are prime examples of how Rome is continuing to move forward in time while remaining the city that takes you back in time.
References
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Cameron Stuart
Josie Noone
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