Gustavo Giovannoni: A Theory and a Practice of Urban Conservation

Defined by his multidisciplinary vision, Gustavo Giovannoni’s career spanned the first few decades of the twentieth century and encompassed three distinct paths: as a practicing professional civil engineer, as a teacher at the University of Rome, and as a scholar of Roman architecture and urban history. His major contribution was, however, in the field of conservation. For the first time, with Giovannoni’s vision, the notion of conservation was extended to the entire urban sector. From a single building to a wider context, he created not only cultural guidelines, but also technical tools concerning the spheres of legislation, urban planning, and architectural restoration.