Fara Marine Colony

Giulia Bianchi, photographer, and Nello Brunelli, writer, have investigated the history and abandonment of one of the fascist marine colonies, the Fara in Chiavari, Italy.

Giulia Bianchi, Colonia marina Fara, Chiavari
The Fara Marine Colony was inaugurated in 1936, dedicated to General Gustavo Fara, who was honoured for his role in the Italo-Turkish war.

The work was commissioned by the National Fascist Party of Genoa, and was officially opened by Mussolini himself.

The architect, Camillo Nardi Greco, designed the building with a certain courage, following the Futurist and Rationalist styles, characterised by bold technical innovations, and breaking away as far as possible from the architectural cannon of the past. Together, the colours and dynamic lines give a sense of speed and movement.

Colonia marina Fara, Chiavari
Old postcard of the Fara Marine Colony in Chiavari
After various events, in the 80s it was declared unfit for use and the surrounding area was blocked off, the windows barred and the doors sealed. Over the years the authorities said they wanted to recuperate the structure, but events got the better of good intentions, and the Marine Colony was left abandoned.
Giulia Bianchi, Fara Marine Colony, Chiavari
Giulia Bianchi, Fara Marine Colony, Chiavari

In 2014, before the beginning of the building renovation, we have documented its story. Climbing the tower and travelling backwards in time, we found traces of the Istrian refugees hosted in the 50s, records and furniture of the International hostel in the 70s, the personal belongings of homeless people sent away by fire, school tables from the following years.

Through the Fara, we have questioned the relationship between the past and the future and the need to take care of things and ourselves.

 

Giulia Bianchi is a photographer, photography teacher and passionate book maker. Nello Brunelli is a software developer and freelance writer. He lives in Chiavari and attended the primary school that was hosted inside Fara. The book “Colonia Marina Fara: Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover” is currently being published.

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