Reloaded Corviale, a City with a Single Building (1973–84). Mario Fiorentino Architect, Rome

Abstract

The Corviale is one of the most controversial pieces of 20th century Roman architecture, having been simultaneously debated, demonized, mythologized, loved and hated. The architecture is unquestionably extraordinary, and not only for its size. The complex, comprised of public housing and services for more than 8,000 residents, was designed between 1972 and 1974 by Mario Fiorentino, along with a large group of associates, and was built in the following ten years. As a result of deterioration due to its incompletion, lack of maintenance, continuous squatting and difficulties for diverse residents to coexist, the Corviale has, for years, represented the manifesto of disastrous public housing policies in Italy