Exhibition of Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini, BBPR

BBPR worked on the renovation of the Castello Sforzesco, which began in 1956 and ended in 1963. In this description, the focus is put on the Courtyard of the Fountain and on the room, which hosts Michelangelo’s Piéta Rondanini.

Concerning the Courtyard, BBPR had to rebuild the ground floor as it had been damaged by the war. Before the renovation, a wooden walkway, that used to exist. It was covered by a canopy with wooden beams and tiles both supported by sloping beams resting on stone shelves. It was demolished since the floor level was lowered. The roof canopy remained unchanged.

Concerning the interior of the Castle, BBPR chose to use simple materials (iron, bronze and stone) and thick sections in order to link their workshop with the architecture of the Castle, i.e make a better link between past and present. Focusing more specifically on the room hosting La Piéta, BBPR imagined different solutions to put the work in value. The one they have chosen aims at discovering the statue with a gradual approach, thanks to 2 semi-circular walls made of stone which separate the statue from the rest of the exhibition.

References: 

• BBPR, Continuazione di un allestimento, in “Città di Milano”, n. 23, febbraio 1963, pp.102-103
• G. SAMOÀ, Un contributo alla museografia, in “Casabella-continuità” n.211, giugnio/luglio 1956, pp.51-53.
• M. LABÒ, R. PANE, Dibattito sul museo del Catello Sforzesco di Milano, in “Architettura”, IV, 1958, pp. 152-163
• S. MAFFIOLETTI, BBPR, Zanichelli, Bologna, 1994.
• M. CERIANA, La Pietà Rondanini: un capolavoro da spostare?, in “Casabella” n. 703, settembre 2002, pp.7-9.

Authors: 

Oljer Cardenas, Victor Fernandes de Almeida Moreira, Louise Pacaut, Adriaan Vandaele.