Lazio and the Flaminio stadium project, the comment by the architect Nervi

Nervi: “Finally a project for the Flaminio”

“Finally – says Nervi – there is a single project that brings it back to life, restores it, renovates it, returns it to the city and makes it compatible with the new rules established for the international football. This is not a havoc, as some have judged it, but a conscious intervention proposed precisely for the functional recovery in respect of those who designed and built it without altering its appearance, maintaining its precious structural and functional characteristics. An evident example – Nervi points out – of respect for the work created by my uncle and my grandfather, finding the necessary conditions, according to new needs, to return to being unique, admired and enjoyed on the occasion of events of international importance. I would also like to underline that anyone who believes that the way forward is to debase the facility by reducing it to little more than a neighborhood recreational club certainly does not demonstrate love, appreciation and respect for the work. The Municipality did well – he continues – when it asked that its international football vocation be respected as it originally was. I would not like to forget that in order to hold competitions of this level it is necessary to be able to accommodate the right audience; there were approximately 46,000 standing as the original capacity, they would return to this level after the expansion project, in compliance with the rules and regulations of each historical moment”.

Nervi: “Nuovo Flaminio redevelopment for the entire quadrant”

Nervi continues: “This concerns the existing one. Obviously, in order to recover ownership for international events it was necessary to hypothesize an expansion of the capacity. The project, as already mentioned, includes structural steel frames, similar in shape to the current ones, placed outside the original ones, so as not to burden the existing structure in any way, which remains free and unaltered, devoid of any connection with the new one and leaving its visibility perceptible. It is appropriate to clarify and dispel any doubts about what was feared by the Pln Project Foundation, which it is worth remembering is made up of only one of the thirteen co-heirs of the designers, regarding the conservation plan drawn up within the program ‘Keeping it modern‘ funded by Getty Foundation. This is a precious document – again Nervi – aimed at the restoration to be carried out on the existing system which will therefore be able to provide ample support in the implementation of the specific intervention, considering that the Lazio project envisages its restoration in the same way. This conservation plan will therefore be an indispensable tool for considering the aspects necessary for the intervention on the existing system“.

And again: “Great attention Lazio project has dedicated to the redevelopment of the entire neighborhood – writes architect Nervi – in fact part of the proposed investment is the creation of new dedicated routes, for example the renewed restoration of the connection with the Tor di Quinto/Fleming area through the renewal of the bridge on the pillars (still in place) of the ancient Bailey bridge; paths and parking areas designed for bicycles and scooters; new and important trees such as to expand the green area of ​​the area to complete the general intervention; the creation of an important exchange hub that would redefine and refunctionalize an area, the one close to viale Tor di Quinto, which has always been left undefined from the point of view of design control of spaces and the environment, with outcomes that could support the functionality of the neighbor Olympic Stadium and the sports facilities of the Foro Italico, which are currently causing endless chaos and inconvenience to the residents of the Flaminio, Villaggio Olimpico, Ponte Milvio and Prati neighborhoods on the Viale Angelico/Piazzale Clodio side, due to the ancestral lack of adequate structures and parking spaces; last but not least new strategic infrastructures for mobility in the area, such as the two-level car park proposed in the Piazza Mancini area and the renewal of the urban paving in the area in question with latest generation, depolluting and draining materials. The related costs will be entirely borne by the proponent.”

Nervi concludes: “The new Flaminio stadium will become an element of new redevelopment for the entire quadrant of the city – he reiterates – A new point of socio-cultural development for the neighborhood to complete what has already been carried out, the Auditorium, the Maxxi, via Guido Reni, up to the Foro Italico; what Ambassador Umberto Vattani wonderfully defined as Rome’s contemporary district. One final consideration, I asked myself what my uncle Antonio and my grandfather Pier Luigi as designers would have said. They certainly would have done better, but without a shadow of a doubt they would not have surpassed the respect, attention and love that the entire group of designers poured into the project presented. Rarely can we find such unity and sharing of intent in tackling such a difficult topic. I particularly thank architect Marco Casamonti for managing to incorporate and convey the due care and attention to the project. Likewise, heartfelt thanks are due to the relevant bodies, in particular the Municipality of Rome and its Departments, particularly that of Sport and Major Events, the Lazio Region and the Special Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of Rome whose collaboration was and is fundamental for the subsequent phases of realization of the project. They have in fact contributed and constitute – constitute – an element of collaborative and constructive discussion thanks to the suggestions and prescriptions indicated”.