Brutalist Italy – Concrete Architecture from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea by Roberto Conte and Stefano Perego explores Italy’s Brutalist architecture, featuring over 100 structures captured through 146 photographs. The book showcases how Italian architects used Brutalism to express both modernity and historical continuity. With iconic works like the Musmeci Bridge and the Our Lady of Tears Sanctuary, the photographers document the raw beauty and cultural significance of Italy’s Brutalist heritage. The book, published by FUEL in September 2023, includes an introduction by Adrian Forty and is presented in a dual-language edition.
The post-war period witnessed the rise of Brutalism, an architectural movement initially met with skepticism but later appreciated for its bold forms and raw materiality. Originating in the United Kingdom, Brutalism spread across Europe and beyond, adapting to different regional and cultural contexts. In Italy, the movement found a unique expression, blending its stark aesthetics with the country’s rich architectural heritage. Photographers Roberto Conte and Stefano Perego capture this distinct narrative in their book Brutalist Italy – Concrete Architecture from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea. Published by FUEL in September 2023, this comprehensive visual documentation provides an in-depth look at Italy’s contribution to Brutalist architecture.
Photographic Exploration of Italy’s Brutalist Architecture
Over five years, Roberto Conte and Stefano Perego traveled more than 20,000 kilometers across Italy, documenting over 100 Brutalist buildings. Their book features 146 photographs, offering a rare glimpse into structures built between the 1960s and 1980s. As authors of Soviet Asia (FUEL, 2019), the photographers have previously explored variations of modernist architecture outside of Italy. With Brutalist Italy, their focus shifts to how Italian architects adapted Brutalist principles to their country’s cultural landscape.
From the Casa del Portuale in Naples to the Sanctuary of Monte Grisa in Trieste, the book showcases an array of Brutalist structures, characterized by their exposed reinforced concrete and defined structural elements. These buildings, often devoid of ornamentation, are presented through a minimalist photographic lens that emphasizes their geometric forms, textures, and interaction with light. “In buildings without much decoration, the role of the photographer is somehow enhanced to highlight the specific features of the structure,” explains Conte, highlighting the visual power of this architectural style.
The Evolution of Brutalism in Italy and Its Cultural Significance
Italy’s take on Brutalism is distinct from other regions, due to the country’s deep architectural history. Italian Brutalist buildings retain the functional rigor of the movement but also incorporate historical references and cultural symbolism. While Brutalism elsewhere often focused on futuristic visions, Italian architects embraced concrete as a medium capable of reflecting both the past and the future. This duality is a key theme in Adrian Forty’s introduction to the book, where he notes, “Italian architects stood out in their willingness to acknowledge that concrete could represent both the present (or the future) and the past simultaneously.”
Following World War II, Italian architects sought to distance themselves from the monumental architecture of the Fascist regime while maintaining modernist ideals. This resulted in a unique version of Brutalism that respected local traditions while exploring new forms. One striking example is the Jesus the Redeemer Church in Turin, designed by Nicola Mosso, Leonardo Mosso, and Livio Norzi. The church features a ceiling of interconnected triangular skylights, using simple materials to create spaces filled with light and emotion, fitting for religious contemplation.
Monumental and Sacred Spaces in Brutalism
Brutalism’s capacity for creating contemplative spaces was particularly suited to religious and sacred buildings in Italy. Architects like Michel Andrault and Pierre Parat, designers of the Our Lady of Tears Sanctuary in Syracuse, used Brutalist principles to craft monumental spaces that inspire awe. The sanctuary’s conical structure ascends over 100 meters, blending modernist design with spiritual grandeur.
Cemetery architecture also provided architects with freedom for expression within the Brutalist framework. Leonardo Ricci’s cemetery extension in Jesi and Luigi Ciapparella’s monumental cemetery in Busto Arsizio reflect the movement’s focus on material honesty and structural boldness. These spaces, though functional, are also deeply contemplative, inviting reflection through their sheer architectural presence.
The Legacy and Revival of Italian Brutalism
Although Brutalism fell out of favor in later decades, its architectural legacy has been rediscovered, with a growing appreciation for its bold designs and cultural significance. Stefano Perego observes a “strong and significative growth of interest” in Brutalist architecture, both in Italy and globally. Buildings once considered harsh and unappealing are now recognized for their historical and architectural value.
Many Italian Brutalist structures, however, have suffered from neglect, while others have been abandoned entirely. Conte and Perego’s photographs capture the contrast between these decaying structures and the enduring strength of their design. Their visual documentation is not just an aesthetic endeavor but a means of preserving the memory of these buildings for future generations.
Brutalist Italy – Concrete Architecture from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea is an essential visual record of Italy’s contribution to the Brutalist movement. Through the lens of Roberto Conte and Stefano Perego, this book showcases the diversity and richness of Italian Brutalist architecture, from sacred spaces to monumental civic structures. By traveling across the country and documenting these often-overlooked buildings, the photographers have created a lasting tribute to the enduring power of Brutalism in Italy.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in architectural history, photography, or the role of concrete in shaping Italy’s post-war architectural identity.
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