The uncertain future of modern public residential housing: the case of th Olympic Village in Rome

Abstract

The assessment of the cultural value of modern architecture and its conservation are not easily accepted issues, especially in the case of public residential housing. Since year 2000, the life of the Olympic Village in Rome, one of Italy's 20th century most relevant public residential settlements, is at a crossroad after the building of the new auditorium in its vicinity has triggered an urban redevelopment process and a sudden turnover of its inhabitants. However, this urban redevelopment does not ensure adequate conservation of this settlement, which has to be considered a relevant historical area today. An increasing number of transformations tend to adjust the houses to current energy performance standards, but with heavy implications on the architectural layout of building's shell, especially on the original fixtures. An accurate reassessment of the building's energy balance represents, here and elsewhere, the point of intersection between architectural restoration and technological research, highlighting the need to elaborate cross-sectional issues in order to reconcile the transformation and the conservation of the place.