In 1953 Gio Ponti, one of the major Italian architects of the time, was entrusted with the design of the hotel in the city of Forlì. The municipal administration of the time and Aldo Garzanti, publisher and patron, decided to build a hospitality center for artists, scholars, scientists and men of letters who had excelled in their disciplines or who were simply in need of financial support. A work of sublime architecture that is also a cultural and social “gem”, a futuristic project that allowed the city to interact with artists, scientists and writers.
In 2007, to celebrate 50 years since its construction, this extraordinary complex was the subject of various memorandums of understanding, conferences, seminars on international studies, exhibitions, it was a model and site of research and knowledge to identify methods and strategies for architectural restoration Contemporary. The essential analysis and knowledge action was therefore undertaken for the recognition of value and for planning adequate recovery interventions. In that same year the importance of the city’s hotel was recognized and made official with a specific protection decree by the Ministry of Culture.
However, “Protection” is not sufficient if those who own it do not recognize its value and do not implement appropriate conservation and valorization strategies. The Hotel della Città, of which the Municipality of Forlì acquired the surface rights for 50 years a few years ago thanks to a 1.7 million euro agreement with the Garzanti Foundation, is still in a worrying state of decay and abandonment, disrespectful of the architectural and cultural importance of the building.
After the partial restoration interventions (2003/2005 – 2009/2015) inside the Hotel, in 2020 the recovery of the annexed “Study Center” began to restore the damage due to rainwater infiltration. On this occasion, the two classrooms inside were equipped with a new audio video system, with a considerable use of public resources. Their use, during the day for university lessons and in the evening for cultural meetings of the associations, was however limited to a short and discontinuous period and they have been closed for a long time.
In this context it is therefore legitimate to ask for clarifications on the times and methods of the intervention that is expected to be carried out on a building of such value, given that to date it is not known the restoration project that will have to convert these spaces into a residential site for use university.
Paola Mazzitelli – official Architect Director Coordinator Ministry of Cultural Heritage until 2013
Luca Massari – professional photographer of architecture and cultural heritage
