PALAZZO DELLA CIVILTA ITALIANA

Description

An impressive portrait of the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana in Rome, the iconic building where Fendi moved its headquarters.

In 2015, the famous fashion house Fendi moved its headquarters to the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana in Rome, a rigid white cube pierced by symmetrical arches. Originally commissioned as part of an exhibition on Roman civilization for the 1942 World’s Fair, the architects drew inspiration from ancient history to create a building that was essentially Roman but decidedly modern, and earned the nickname “the Square Colosseum.”

Due to its striking appearance and iconic status, the palace subsequently appeared in several films by directors such as Roberto Rossellini, Federico Fellini, and Peter Greenaway. The building remained relatively abandoned for much of its existence, until his recent residence in Fendi’s ever-innovative house, an experience that Karl Lagerfeld has compared to being “in a spacecraft transported into the future.”

Featuring photographs by famous artists such as Gabriele Basilico, Franco Fontana and Lagerfeld, this magnificently illustrated volume takes the reader on a fascinating journey through art, architecture, culture and history.