UNAFFORDABLE CITY

The Olympic Stadium of Calatrava represents the symbol of un-finished in Italy. The large structure is located just outside of Rome city centre in the middle of the Roman countryside. Reinventing the strong landmark already existing in the rural landscape is the challenge of the architectural project that wants to react as a new scientific pole.

The idea is a continuous path developed on three different levels and covering the entire surface of the existing building: the underground floor, the zero, the suspended walk. A jump from microscopic to macroscopic reality inspired by the famous short documentary “Powers of Ten”, realized in '77 by the American couple Charles and Ray Eames. Respectively they introduce the visitor to the natural sciences, then through the museum of technology, until the “jump to 10000”, the universe. Thus, as an exercise of utopia at monumental scale, the museum of science is born, or rather, a district of sciences, enhanced by the presence of prestigious institutions. More specifically the numerous centers of scientific excellence that are localized in the surroundings, such as the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the University of Tor Vergata, the Observatory and still the National Institute of Astrophysics and many others. Each of these centers would find its own extension within the architectural drawing, making a place for the exchange of knowledge. The building, a currently unresolved place can become something else by regenerating the area all around.