The regeneration project for Villa Patrizi, designed by Scandurra Studio, aims to breathe new life into this historic complex, owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, located in the Nomentano district of Rome. Part of the experimental laboratory within the Advanced Executive Program in Strategic Finance Real Estate, accredited by Asfor and organized by Investire SGR (Gruppo Banca Finnat), the project stands out for its innovative approach that combines the enhancement of existing heritage with contemporary solutions. The intervention seeks to promote sustainable development of the area, respecting and strengthening the connection between architecture and the city.
Built in the 18th century by architect Sebastiano Cipriani in the Rococo style, Villa Patrizi was originally a residence for the Patrizi Naro Montoro family, situated outside the city walls. After being damaged during the fighting in 1849, the villa was rebuilt in the following years and, since 1907, has been owned by the Italian Railway Administration, becoming one of its main headquarters. Today, the villa is located in a unique urban context, near Porta Pia and the Aurelian Walls.
The Scandurra Studio project rethinks the relationship between architecture and the city, spanning an area of about 100,000 square meters. It includes the construction of hotels, student residences, retail spaces, and event areas, as well as new pedestrian connections that will promote the integration of the complex with the surrounding neighborhood.
The heart of the project lies in enhancing the four internal courtyards of the villa, which will be reorganized to create continuity between the private spaces of the complex and the public dimension of the city. The intervention is structured into a series of layered functions:
The project plans a reorganization of the internal spaces of Villa Patrizi. The basement will be transformed into a new ground floor, creating a series of representative spaces connected to courtyards and gardens, which will become new focal points of the complex. This level will accommodate multifunctional spaces designed to host a variety of activities planned for the project. On the first floor, communal spaces will open onto hanging gardens, fostering continuity between internal and external environments. The second floor, the “noble floor” of the building, will house representative areas and lobby spaces, with higher ceilings, maintaining the architectural dialogue with the villa’s tradition.
Additionally, the introduction of a new volume creates a wide entrance at the basement level, oriented towards Porta Pia, revealing the building’s hidden facade and connecting it to a new commercial gallery that strengthens the complex’s relationship with the surrounding urban context.
The regeneration of Villa Patrizi is not only a heritage recovery operation but also an opportunity to reflect on the role of architecture in the construction of collective memory. Alessandro Scandurra, architect and founder of the studio, states:
“Projects like Villa Patrizi give us the opportunity to reflect on how architecture contributes to creating collective memory. To do so, we must start with the memory of the past, recovering those moments of wonder that the architecture of cities has intentionally or unintentionally left to history. Our vision for Villa Patrizi is rooted in the vitality of the present and places the dialogue between architecture and the city at its core, knowing that bringing elements together is more challenging than separating them.”
The villa, a silent witness to past eras, reclaims its role in the heart of the city, looking with renewed strength towards the challenges of the present. With a vision that embraces historical memory and the evolution of the urban fabric, the project not only restores beauty but also reconnects Villa Patrizi to the city of Rome, where the ancient and the contemporary merge in a dialogue of potential for the future.
For more info: www.scandurrastudio.com
