Rome, Turin, Bologna and Florence – four major Italian cities are the protagonists in the exhibition “Movimenti” which has opened at the Galleria Comunale di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome running until 30 March. The focus is on projects for railway stations in each of the cities, objects of an investment programme on the part of the Ferrovie dello Stato which intends to bring about definitive changes in infrastructure to accommodate high velocity trains.

The starting point is the design by Paolo Desideri (in collaboration with Maria Laura Arlotti, Michele Beccu and Filippo Raimondo), recent winner of the competition for the new station/bridge in Rome, destined to accommodate trains for long and medium distance journeys with 510 trains a day of which 56 are high speed, a total of 70 000 passengers and 140 000 people passing through. The building, which takes the form of a bridge between the two areas of Pietralata and Nomentano, is due to be completed by the end of 2004/beginning of 2005. On display are also the designs by the other finalists: Aldo Aymonino, Francesco Purini, Otto Steidle.

The other cities are each at different stages, Turin for example has recently announced the winners for Porta Susa station, the French group Arep, lead by Jean-Marie Duthilleul.

Bologna is involved in two projects, remodelling the existing building of Bologna Centrale and the building of a new station for high speed trains, designed by Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill, 24 metres below the existing station.

Finally Florence has just launched a competition (deadline 15 April) for a new station, focal point of a new system which will extend from Santa Maria Novella to the ex Macelli area. The winner will be announced in January 2003, following an initial selection which will be carried out in June this year.

until 30.3.2002
Movimenti. Le Ferrovie italiane protagoniste dell'architettura nelle città che cambiano
Galleria Comunale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
Via Reggio Emilia, Rome
https://www.comune.roma.it/gal_com