The main hall of the juvenile prison designed by Fontana is criss-crossed by an abundant array of coloured cords attached to the balconies that front each row of cells. The sad, sombre space is turned joyfully colourful and bright, a spectacle reflected in the mirrors lining the rear wall. Hanging from this webbing are canvases whose watercolours describe the firm’s projects, while the construction-site tables set up below hold working materials, including sketches, coloured pencils, tape measures and photographs. The scale models rest on bases made of the materials used by the firm in the course of its most recent projects. Exhibited in the cells are images taken by renowned photographers, while sculptures by Isola and Norzi are positioned randomly in the main hall. One of them, in an irrepressible quest for freedom, is found at the entrance, shown making an escape attempt.
Client: CAVEA Department University of Rome; DARC - General direction for Architecture and contemporary art; Monuments and landscape supervision office of Rome
Location: Rome, Italy
Architects: Aimaro e Saverio Isola, Maurizio Petrangeli
Design team:
Timeline: 2005
Status: exhibition