Overview
Why ROME
Rome’s premier place in the evolution of Western culture underscores its unequaled relevance to general scholarship and cultural awareness. In addition, its 27 centuries of constant development make it an unparalleled example of both physical and cultural sustainability. From its primitive Bronze Age beginnings, to the rationalism of Rome’s ancient past to its modern 20th century reinvention, the Roman context brings alive 2700 years of Western cultural thought. Now, the dynamic palimpsest of its urban plan informs the contemporary architectural discourse, and the new Roman works of Meier, Piano, Koolhaas, Fuksas and Hadid are helping to launch the architecture of the 21st century.
Rome represents not just the glory of past epochs but also the promise and the real-world problems of a 21st century metropolis. Rome is not a static, European museum-city. Its vitality derives from the challenges that face its continued development. This is what will keep Rome always relevant when AIRC students return home to draw from the lessons they’ve learned here.
Why AIRC
The AIRC Program in Architecture, likewise, simultaneously stresses the contemporary condition, problems and potential of the 21st century built environment, while also supporting the institute’s dedication to sustainability and heritage projects. The Rome Center provides an identifiable and critical locale for this investigation both within its walls, and more importantly, beyond them in the city itself.