Mario Ridolfi, Palazzina Colombo, Rome, Italy, 1937 (view in Google Maps)

La Palazzina Colombo was designed by Ridolfi in 1935-38 for Achille Colombo as a result of collaboration with Volfango Frankl. The project started at the beginning of 1935. In November 1935 the construction license was released and next year the works started. It was completed in 1938 in via di San Valentino 21.

The design is considered among the Roman paradigms of rationalism. In this project Ridolfi stated the principles of rationalism within the Roman Empire in the years of fascism. The relations with the German and Swiss architecture are witnessed by Ridolfi and described in his intervention in a journal in 1943, in which he recalls his formative years. The Colombo house represents a milestone in research on housing in Italy during the period of Fascism.

The house was a result of the client’s need, which was a villa with a multi-storey apartment.

The building is divided into 6 floors. The space of the living room was faced to the main entrance. The service areas are located in the two parallel arms along the side elevations. In the longer arm there are bedrooms with balconies. The frontal elevation is characterized by the presence of continuous balconies which overlook the living spaces. Each unit consists of 5 bedrooms, area of services and a living room, connected with the dining room. In the north there is the kitchen and services, to the south – the bedrooms and study rooms, while on the main elevation there is lounge and dining area.

The study of Ridolfi was also responsible for the design of fixed furniture and fixtures , thus materializing the ideal of integrated planning at all scales of project, fundamental prerogative of rationalism.

Links

• http://www.fondoridolfi.org/FondoRidolfi/49_5/periodo/palazzina-colombo.htm
• http://www.archidiap.com/works/palazzina-colombo

Reviewed March 2017 by:

Yue Shang

Xiaolin Lu

Lizhongyang Zhou

Adelina Muntean