Architecture Rome: Health and Human Safety in the Eternal City

The Program will examine the historical and contemporary impact of moments of crisis, with a particular focus on systems of infrastructure and accommodation that provide for the health and safety of Rome's citizens. Based on Rome and Italy's recent travails from the Covid-19 pandemic, our interest is in considering how the city will respond to current demands while also facilitating new ways of living. Naturally, the city of Rome has endured many other moments of crisis. The city's past misfortunes include attacks on the physical fabric of the city and threats to the lives of its citizens. Despite these challenges, Rome has been resilient throughout its history, with sites of crisis and despair often intermingling with new visions of the city. We will look at this issue through two specific sites within Rome's walls, the first being at one of the most symbolically important gates in the Aurelian walls (271-75 CE) and the second being at the heart of its ancient historic center. The program will begin with an urban analysis of the historical and contemporary infrastructures related to these two sites that have supported health and human life; including transportation systems, water, sewers and other public services. Each group involved in studying those aspects of these sites will then make proposals that involve the need for public spaces as well as supporting activities that both promote and support human health and safety.

We are extremely fortunate to be housed in the historic 15th century Palazzo Pio, in the heart of Rome’s Centro Storico. Palazzo Pio was built literally on top of the ancient theater complex where Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. The location and the historical context are absolutely unique.

What began in 1970 as a small architecture study abroad program by Professor Emerita Astra Zarina grew into the official seat of the UW in Rome by 1985. In 2018, we will host nearly 400 UW students from a range of disciplines including, of course, architecture and classics, but also engineering, mathematics, cinema studies, art history, anthropology, literature, and more.

And we want that number to be higher. We are actively working to expand opportunities for more UW students to experience their own transformations abroad, developing global awareness, appreciation for other cultures, self-confidence, and independence. Research tells us that college students who study abroad are more likely to graduate and more engaged in their entire educational experience. The UW Rome Center is the ideal setting for immersion and transformation in a city with more than 2000 years of history.

To better serve a greater number of students and programs, the UW Rome Center is embarking on a major renovation of our space in the Palazzo Pio. We aim to ensure the long-term continuation of the transformative experience of study abroad, research, and international collaboration. We also envision opening our doors more to the community, inviting them to join us in learning from our expert faculty and guest lecturers who frequent the UW Rome Center in our grand conference room and new exhibit space. This will be a place where UW programs and the broader community will come to share in the creation and delivery of knowledge, expanding all of our cultural boundaries.