The Architecture of Public Space

This new book by Labics, one of Italy’s leading architectural firms, is devoted to the country’s architecture of public space. Squares, galleries, loggias, porticoes, and courtyards, are the elements that characterise Italy’s historic towns and cities - and that make these places so timelessly attractive to visitors. Yet the volume does not feature new designs by Labics themselves. Rather, Maria Claudia Clemente, Francesco Isidori and their collaborators set out to explore these enchanting spaces, to analyse their history and typologies, and to document and describe them through newly taken and historic photographs, plans and diagrams. The Architecture of Public Space forms a captivating collection of visually explained characteristics of these core elements of Italian cities. It highlights the architectural solutions from the 13th to the 20th centuries that make the particular spatial quality of these urban structures and sets out how they are being constituted for and used by the people. AUTHORS: Maria Claudia Clemente and Francesco Isidori are the founding partners of Rome-based architecture firm Labics. They also lecture and serve as guest critics at international universities, such as Cornell University’s School of Architecture in Itahca, NY, and Rome. SELLING POINTS: . Features the result of Rome-based architecture firm Labic’s extensive research into the public spaces of Italy’s historic towns and cities, revealing what makes these famous urban spaces so timelessly attractive to visitors and locals alike . Labics is one of Italy’s leading architecture firms that has earned much international recognition for both its designs and research work . Heavily illustrated with newly taken and historic photographs, plans and drawings 250 colour, 200 b/w illustrations