CULTURA ROMA - Assessorato alle Politiche Culturali e della Comunicazione - Comune di Roma

The building housing the La Casa della Memoria e della Storia goes back to the early years of the twentieth century. Three stories face via San Francesco di Sales and the fourth faces the Orto Botanico. They were combined into a single structure so that the uses, decided upon of the building, followed its architectural design.

1,250 square metres is the overall area of which 950 covered square metres are available for use and 300 square metres as terraces. Sixteen rooms have been created for the exclusive use of the various associations on site for an overall 335 square metres and 615 square metres for Municipal activities open to the public and to areas for facilities. It is stressed that reconstruction was carried out in under a year.

Great attention was paid to enhancing the level of the environmental features particularly regarding comfort. New and modern panels were used for thermal/acoustic insulation both in the finishings of the attics as well as the walls. Air conditioning systems have also been installed designed to obtain the best results but at the same time comply with environmental and power saving requirements.

As regards the field of bio-technology, special photoreceptors for solar heating and air conditioning have been located along the external perimeters of the spacious terrace on the first floor. This modern innovative technology offers a twofold result: enhancing health in environments on the first floor and the architectonic quality on the terrace, free of the cumbersome, not very previous practical skylights.

All the architectonic decisions, aimed at using techniques and natural materials respecting tradition, went towards the implementation of the project. Colour, light, form and materials were combined in an organic system which, together with the telecommunication technologies installed, contributes towards making the Casa della Memoria e della Storia building a powerful communications facility. Consequently, the audiovisual and computer systems installed give an active contribution towards the modern aspect of the works. This can be perceived from the outside and the inside and their well organised location.

The project finally shows the numerous devices for the removal of all the architectonic barriers.

The reconstruction of the building was promoted by these bodies: Assessorato alle Politiche del Patrimonio, Politiche Abitative and the Promozione Progetti Speciale.

The works involving consolidation and restoration of the Casa della Memoria e della Storia with the project and- supervision of the works by Architect Renato Guido in collaboration with Engineer Lorenzo Mariotti, the Studio Progettazione Guidi e Santori, were carried out by the Pulcini Group.