The School of Mathematics at Rome’s University Campus: Gio Ponti, 1935

Simona Salvo

Sep 2022 · Sapienza Università Editrice

About this ebook

The School of Mathematics is a masterpiece of the early 1930s by Gio Ponti, who is today regarded as a master of Italian Modernism. Although World War II bombings shattered the coloured stained-glass window that once adorned the balanced and harmonious white travertine façade, the building remains a striking and significant piece of architecture. Although it underwent a series of transformations over the years before its historical and artistic relevance was recognised, it can still be appreciated and admired for its magnificent expressivity. Its uniqueness derives from its complexity, such as is often found in Italian monuments of all ages: a rare synthesis of urban design, architecture, art, industrial design, historical archives and – perhaps the first of its kind – scientific production in the field of mathematics.

This illustrated report is a synopsis of the extensive technical research documents produced by the research team for each step of the work. It is also a premise for the conservation management plan proposed at the end of the full report. As in any area of science, knowledge is at the basis of future action: we need to understand today how to take care of the historical buildings of our campus tomorrow – buildings recognised worldwide as architectural and historical monuments.

About the author

Simona Salvo, professore associato di Restauro architettonico, architetto, dottore di ricerca e specialista nel restauro. I suoi interessi scientifici sono rivolti, in particolare, alle questioni di teoria e tecnica che pone il restauro dell'architettura contemporanea e alle dinamiche con cui la cultura della conservazione si sta diffondendo nel mondo, con specifica attenzione alla trasmissione della cultura italiana del restauro. Si occupa da anni di svolgere ricerche sugli edifici della città universitaria di Roma, in particolare sull'Istituto di Fisica (Giuseppe Pagano, 1935) e sulla Scuola di Matematica (Gio Ponti, 1935). È autrice di numerose pubblicazioni fra libri, saggi e articoli su riviste scientifiche, nazionali e internazionali.