C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y R O M E P R O G R A M : F O U N D AT I O N S I N A R C H I T E C T U R E , S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 / / I N S T R U C T O R : T E S S C L A N C Y
NAME: Eunji Cho S I T E : M u s s o l i n i ’s B a c l o n y, P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a , R o m e , I t a l y
Balcony and fountain in Rome
Balcony and fountain in Rome
Two central topics are emerged in this project. The first is the transformation of the original balcony’s negative history into a positive space. The second relates to the merged balcony acting as a public space. Balcony and fountain are known to many as Rome’s historical and cultural emblem. Water, especially the Roman water was considered a gift, and the Romans embellished them, and made them monuments. However, Benito Mussolini’s balcony is known as the representation of the political revolutions, ambitions during his regime and its tragic conclusion in the final years of the war in Rome’s 20th century. Mussolini delivered all his most important speeches, including the declaration of the Italian empire in 1936, from its blacony. The balcony stands there still today, jutting from the upper floor of the Palazzo Venezia. Inspired by the fountains in Rome, I have designed the sunken fountain as a mirror image of the old one, sunk beneath the old place in order to rescue the history of this place as a positive space from its negative history. The sunken fountain is now turned into a pedestal, an invitation to passersby who stand upon it to counter-think about its original meaning and the use of the balcony. The sunken balcony has now turned into a funnel where water runs down. By sinking the inverted balcony into the depths in this way, I have attempted to bring the history of the balcony back up to the surface and the history of the balcony becomes the subterranean history of the city. In this way, the fountain that replaced the balcony in Palazzo Venezia will provide a neutral space and will become a complete counter of the spirit and idea of Fascism.
YOUR BEST/MOST DESCRIPTIVE DRAWING SHOULD GO HERE
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Lastly, the original balcony has become as a public space so that anyone who wish to enjoy the view of the Colosseum will be supported by this practice.
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Site Photographs and drawings (1) Reference for pathway extension (2) Elevation before renovation (3) Elevation before section (4) Plan of P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a b u i l d i n g ( 5 ) T h e o r i g i n a l b a l c o n y a n d M u s s o l i n i ( 6 ) P i a z z a Ve n e z i a , P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a a n d t h e b a l c o n y.
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Balcony and fountain in Rome
C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y R O M E P R O G R A M : F O U N D AT I O N S I N A R C H I T E C T U R E , S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 / / I N S T R U C T O R : T E S S C L A N C Y
NAME: Eunji Cho S I T E : M u s s o l i n i ’s B a c l o n y, P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a , R o m e , I t a l y
Balcony and fountain in Rome
Building materials taken from the Colosseum. 1:500m
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Timeline of the balcony, Palazzo Venezia: [Mussolini and the balcony]
2. 1910 The Italian Government enlarge the Piazza Venezia and built a replica of the Palazzo Venezia on the opposite side of the square. 3. 1917 The Italian Government seized the building.
S i t e p l a n a n d Ti m e l i n e 1:500m Representing pathway extension to encourage the public to interact with the fountain.
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Via del Corso
C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y R O M E P R O G R A M : F O U N D AT I O N S I N A R C H I T E C T U R E , S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 / / I N S T R U C T O R : T E S S C L A N C Y
NAME: Eunji Cho S I T E : M u s s o l i n i ’s B a c l o n y, P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a , R o m e , I t a l y
L e f t : S e c t i o n o f t h e b u i l d i n g s h o w i n g t h e f o u n t a i n a n d t h e b a l c o n y, R i g h t : E l e v a t i o n o f P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a . 1:20m Including water pipe (left), the fountain and sunken fountain, and the public balconies (right).
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Balcony and fountain in Rome
C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y R O M E P R O G R A M : F O U N D AT I O N S I N A R C H I T E C T U R E , S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 / / I N S T R U C T O R : T E S S C L A N C Y
NAME: Eunji Cho S I T E : M u s s o l i n i ’s B a c l o n y, P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a , R o m e , I t a l y
Axon (Zoomed-in) 1:20m T h e f o u n t a i n s ( s u n k e n a n d o u t d o o r ) r e p l a c e d i t s m a i n e n t r a n c e a n d t h e o r i g i n a l s p a c e o f t h e b a l c o n y.
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Balcony and fountain in Rome
C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y R O M E P R O G R A M : F O U N D AT I O N S I N A R C H I T E C T U R E , S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 / / I N S T R U C T O R : T E S S C L A N C Y
NAME: Eunji Cho S I T E : M u s s o l i n i ’s B a c l o n y, P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a , R o m e , I t a l y
Diagrams. (Perspective) To p r i g h t a n d l e f t : W h e n o n e g e t t o t h i s f o u n t a i n , o n e w o u l d w a t c h t h i s a s w a t e r f i l l s n a r r o w c a n a l s a t o u r f e e t . Middle: View of the fountain from the balcony Bottom left: View of the Colosseum from the balcony Bottom middle: Fountain replaced the main entrance (Perspective) B o t t o m r i g h t : L o w e re d b a l c o n y : u p s i d e d o w n i n t o t h e g ro u n d ( E l e v a t i o n )
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Balcony and fountain in Rome
C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y R O M E P R O G R A M : F O U N D AT I O N S I N A R C H I T E C T U R E , S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 / / I N S T R U C T O R : T E S S C L A N C Y
NAME: Eunji Cho S I T E : M u s s o l i n i ’s B a c l o n y, P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a , R o m e , I t a l y
Axon 1:20m T h e f o u n t a i n s , t h e b a l c o n y, a n d P a l a z z o v e n e z i a .
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Balcony and fountain in Rome
C O R N E L L U N I V E R S I T Y R O M E P R O G R A M : F O U N D AT I O N S I N A R C H I T E C T U R E , S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 / / I N S T R U C T O R : T E S S C L A N C Y
NAME: Eunji Cho S I T E : M u s s o l i n i ’s B a c l o n y, P a l a z z o Ve n e z i a , R o m e , I t a l y