Architecture - Interior and Exhibit Design

The objective of the course is to provide the necessary tools for knowledge of the history of contemporary architecture in the international scene, with a specific focus on exhibitions, exhibition spaces and interior design. The reference chronological span is between the industrial revolution and the present day. Beginning with the study of the historical framework relating to the different eras introduced, for an appropriate placement of architectural events in their social and cultural context, significant figures, works, places and moments are made to emerge for the definition of the theoretical devices and design methodology that characterize the development of contemporary architecture in general, and which then determine the particular directions and design choices in the field of layouts (museum, for exhibitions, events, temporary installations etc. ) and interior architecture, interpreted in their multiplicity of values: tectonic-spatial, material, stylistic, symbolic and functional. Specific analysis is reserved for the works of Italian masters who have given the work on fittings and interiors a foundational role in professional practice, with their own specificities of optics, utility, aesthetics, dimensional scale, durability and material, including Carlo Scarpa, Gio Ponti, Carlo Mollino, Franco Albini, Gae Aulenti, Ettore Sottsass, Antonio Citterio and others. The history of interior design is also associated with the history of design to define the interdisciplinary dimension of design. In addition, for a deeper understanding of the works and theoretical assumptions analyzed, the investigation aims to open up to the analysis of contemporary achievements in other disciplines, such as art, philosophy, literature and cinema, that influence design choices in the different historical periods analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the relationship with the host city, and specific site visits will be organized for the study of the main Roman works of the 20th century. The course is divided into ex cathedra lectures, exercises, visits, possible in itinere tests.

No specific prerequisites are required to attend the course. However, it is preferable that students have previously attended a course in History of Contemporary Architecture during their undergraduate studies, and that they possess basic knowledge of Art History and Aesthetics, which are helpful in understanding the cultural, theoretical, and visual references underlying the development of modern and contemporary architecture.

REFERENCE MANUALS: William J. R. Curtis, Modern Architecture Since 1900. Phaidon. Kenneth Frampton, Modern Architecture: A Critical History (5th ed.). Thames & Hudson. RECOMMENDED (Interiors · Exhibition Design · Museography): Graziella Tonon, Interni italiani del Novecento. Electa. (Italian only) Vanni Pasca (ed.), Design e Interni in Italia (selected essays). (Italian only; editor/publisher varies) Andrea Branzi, Il design italiano. Laterza. (Italian only — English alternative: The Hot House: Italian New Wave Design, MIT Press) Various authors, Museografia e allestimenti in Italia (catalogues and studies). Electa / Skira. (Italian only / many bilingual) ICOM guidelines on museums and exhibition design (English available via ICOM/UNESCO publications).

Attendance is strongly recommended in person, as direct participation in lectures, exercises, and site visits is an essential part of the learning process and promotes a critical and interactive understanding of the course content. For students who are unable to attend regularly, the syllabus, activities, and main topics covered in class will be uploaded periodically to the Sapienza e-learning platform, allowing them to stay up to date with the course materials and progress.

The course is designed to strengthen students’ critical awareness, historical understanding, and communication skills, enabling them to interpret contemporary architecture as a complex phenomenon that interweaves theory, space, and representation. Students will learn to synthesize diverse historical and theoretical perspectives through both individual and group work. At the beginning of the semester, a list of significant architectures, interiors, and exhibition designs will be provided. Each group will study one case in depth and present their findings to the class through visual materials and a concise critical report. Site Visits and Fieldwork: Visits to relevant buildings, interiors, and exhibition spaces in Rome will provide direct insights into spatial and historical contexts. Students will be encouraged to document these experiences through sketches, photographs, or other approved creative techniques. The results will be collected in a research notebook, containing images and short texts (up to 300 words each) explaining the analytical and interpretive process behind the observations. Written Assignments and Presentations: Short essays and oral presentations will help students articulate coherent arguments, linking historical case studies with contemporary design practices and effectively communicating their analytical results. The final grade will consist of two components, each worth 50% of the total mark: First Examination: Group presentation of the assigned case study, held at the end of the semester. Evaluation criteria will include clarity of exposition, communicative effectiveness, and the ability to connect historical analysis with key themes of contemporary architectural culture. Second Examination: Individual oral exam during the official exam session, to be booked through the Infostud platform. In this interview, students will present the results of their personal study, supported by their research notebook, and discuss the topics covered in lectures and assigned readings.

Thematic and Monographic Studies Carlo Scarpa Robert McCarter, Carlo Scarpa, Phaidon — ENG Richard Murphy, Carlo Scarpa and the Castelvecchio Museum, Butterworth Architecture / Skira — ENG AA.VV., Carlo Scarpa. Architetture e allestimenti, Marsilio / Electa — ITA Franco Albini (with Helg, Piva) AA.VV., Franco Albini. Architettura, Electa — ITA AA.VV., Albini Helg Piva. Architetture e interni, Electa — ITA Giampiero Bosoni (ed.), Franco Albini: Works 1929–1968, Skira — ENG BBPR Fulvio Irace (ed.), BBPR. L’architettura di un gruppo, Electa — ITA AA.VV., La Torre Velasca, Electa — ITA Gio Ponti Lisa Licitra Ponti (ed.), Gio Ponti: The Complete Work 1923–1978, MIT Press / Mondadori Electa — ENG AA.VV., Gio Ponti, TASCHEN — ENG Gae Aulenti Giovanni Agosti, Gae Aulenti. La Gae, Rizzoli — ITA Vanni Pasca (ed.), Gae Aulenti: Objects and Spaces, Corraini — ENG / bilingual Ettore Sottsass Philippe Thomé, Ettore Sottsass, Phaidon — ENG AA.VV., Ettore Sottsass: The Planet as Festival / There Is a Planet, Skira / Electa / Triennale Milano — ENG / bilingual Carlo Mollino Napoleone Ferrari, Carlo Mollino. Architetto, Electa — ITA Franz Schulze; Napoleone Ferrari, The Furniture of Carlo Mollino, Phaidon — ENG Napoleone Ferrari; Michelangelo Sabatino (eds.), Carlo Mollino: Architect and Storyteller, Park Books — ENG Antonio Citterio Deyan Sudjic (ed.), Antonio Citterio: Architecture and Design, Silvana Editoriale — ENG / bilingual Theoretical Framework and Italian 20th-Century Context Aldo Rossi, The Architecture of the City, MIT Press — ENG Robert Venturi, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) — ENG Paolo Portoghesi, After Modern Architecture, Rizzoli / MIT Press — ENG Francesco Dal Co (ed.), Storia dell’architettura italiana. Il primo/secondo Novecento, Electa — ITA Paolo Scrivano, Olivetti Builds Modern Italy: Architecture, Industry and Politics, 1945–1962, Peter Lang — ENG

The course combines lectures, exercises, seminar presentations, and site visits to significant buildings, interiors, and exhibition spaces, with the aim of integrating theoretical study and direct spatial experience. Lectures introduce the main authors, works, and themes of contemporary architectural history, with particular focus on the development of interior architecture and exhibition design in both international and Italian contexts. Workshops and group assignments encourage in-depth exploration of case studies through historical research, critical analysis, and the production of visual or multimedia materials. Seminar sessions promote collective discussion and personal reflection on the interrelations between history, theory, and design. Site visits consolidate the knowledge acquired in class through direct observation, fostering students’ ability to read and interpret architecture within its cultural and material context. Attendance is strongly recommended, as in-class and field activities are an essential part of the learning process and crucial for adequate preparation for the final examination.