Domus Romana
Architectural Shelter Design
​
The design practices on merged historical eras in Piazza Sordello, the heart of Mantua, Italy.
Piazza
Sordello
Mantova
The project is produced and submitted to Politecnico di Milano on October, 2013 under the supervision of prof. David Palterer; prof. Francesco Caprini; and prof Leonardo Belladelli.
​
The project is located on the very southern part of the Piazza Sordello, Mantua, Italy.
​
The project focuses on merged cultural layers and brings up an extra-ordinary discussion on contemporary approach to historical sites. The project studies a contemporary computational based: grasshopper design tool on rhino and this kind of approach could be only possible on such a historical site, since the completeness of preserved area is legible to audience.
Meanwhile the structure is completely reversible light structure so that it could be dismentled easily in various cases.
​
Temporary use of the piazza makes the place much more interesting and charming. The spirit of place is fed by temporary events as well as permanent surrounding. The dynamism of the place gains more parameters and becoming much more complex. The use of the space is usually defined by the people and events are bringing more people to the public area. The use of space can be a shelter for visitor or can be a shortcut way to pass through. The concept of redefinable spaces are emphesized with the inspiration from the piazza Sordello. Its features come from its nature since the piazza is located on the higher site with important public buildings. Also it is central and large enough to hold many people.
​
The volume to preserve Domus Romana mosaics is tried to be created with the optimum volume. Piazza Sordello and Mantova city is composed of layers such as medieval and ancient. The mosaics of ancient era would be differenciated by a contemporary shell. The design study is based on the concept of having an ancient child under the skin of medieval town. The narrative idea of layers is emphesized with the layers of a woman. The placenta (medieval cover) preserved the child till it is being awared. Then the contemporary belly of woman starts to get bigger. The structure is covered with a skin which to exhibit and preservation at the same time. The building also should live with Piazza Sordello. They would have a mutual life. They both take benefits from each other and the city as well. The outer skin would also include the facilities and spaces for feeding both the ancient mosaics and the piazza.
​
