Italian Rationalism: the bigger picture

Palazzo del Toro, Milan

A talk by Professor Judi Loach

At The Gallery, and live streamed

Tuesday 19th July, 1830-1930

Watch video of the event here

Part of our Italian Rationalism double bill, with Giuseppe Terragni

Attendees at The Gallery are welcome to join us from 1815 for a glass of wine.

The dominance of Terragni when thinking about Italian Rationalism has often overshadowed the work of other Rationalists. This talk will redress the balance, with particular emphasis on post-World War Two Rationalism that while unequivocally Modern, has been left out of the standard histories for decades. Part of the reason for its neglect has been the view that it was overly historicist.

Yet it is this commitment to learning from the past that gives Italian Rationalism a unique significance and ongoing relevance.  While this included analysing geometries of past masters, perhaps more important and less well known is its research into vernacular architecture, which led to the use of a wider range of materials, especially traditional ones - stone, brick, timber and tile - which in turn produced a multi-coloured and textured Modernism. Consequently such architecture could, without compromising its Modernity, integrate well into existing urban contexts; and by learning from regional vernacular it could also produce designs that respond to local environmental conditions.

Our northern Italy study tour later this year will be led by Professor Judi Loach and will focus on Italian Rationalism.

As a result of extreme weather this week caused by the climate emergency, we have decided to make this event online only.