Thesis title: Il binomio superficie-rivestimento nell'architettura italiana del primo Novecento. Magisteri teorici, saperi costruttivi e prassi edilizie fra tradizione e industrializzazione
Building upon current debates concerning the conservation of contemporary architectural heritage, this research undertakes a systematic analysis of the relationship between surface and cladding in early twentieth-century Italian architecture, with the aim of advancing its critical understanding and promoting its recognition as a bearer of cultural and historical value.
The investigation is structured along two complementary axes — aesthetic-theoretical and technical-constructive — whose integration enables the formulation of a coherent and comprehensive framework for the topic.
From a theoretical standpoint, the study examines the formulation and dissemination of the “principle of cladding” within European architectural theory between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, exploring its reception and reinterpretation in the Italian context in relation to the emergence of architectural modernity. Particular attention is devoted to the dialogue with the other artistic disciplines, identifying in the architectural surface a privileged site of intersection between art and architecture.
In parallel, the research addresses the technical-constructive dimension, focusing on the introduction of new materials and building practices that significantly influenced the articulation of architectural surfaces. Specific attention is given to modern petrifying plasters, ceramic materials, and natural stones, whose application proved decisive in defining the architectural image of the period. Technical and specialist journals from the relevant production sectors constitute the principal documentary corpus, providing direct evidence of evolving construction practices, emerging technologies, and material experimentation, as well as of the broader technical and cultural discourse that characterized this phase. The analysis of these sources allows for the reconstruction of the economic and productive context within which modern architecture developed in Italy, highlighting the interrelations between industrial apparatus, technological innovation, and architectural design.
The final phase of the research focuses on a selection of emblematic case studies, chosen for their ability to exemplify the convergence between theoretical premises and constructive solutions. The in-depth examination of these examples, largely unpublished, enables a critical assessment of the strategies adopted in the use of cladding, offering a concrete understanding of the design processes and of their formal and technical implications.
The overall objective of the research is twofold: first, to contribute to the historiographical understanding of cladding through an original, systematic, and scientifically grounded study; second, to inform contemporary approaches to conservation and restoration. In this sense, the project aims to serve as a tool for informed design practice, fostering the recognition of cladding as a structural and identity-bearing component of Modern architecture.