In the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Brazil, Francesco Azzarello, the “Contemporary City and Urban Conservation” conference cycle was inaugurated at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of the University of Brasilia. Lectures, mini-courses and seminars are scheduled on the relationship between heritage conservation and modern urban planning, based on the legacy of the 20th century Italian architect and engineer, Gustavo Giovannoni, creator of the concept of urban heritage.
The guest of honour was Andrea Pane, Professor of Restoration at the Department of Architecture of the University of Naples Federico II, who gave a lectio magistralis entitled ”Urban Conservation in Italy in the 20th Century: from Historical Urban Fabric to Modern Heritage”.
In his speech Ambassador Azzarello emphasised the work of the Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute in Rio de Janeiro in enhancing the role of Italian architects and restorers in Brazil, particularly in Salvador de Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and soon in Belem. He said: “It gives me particular pleasure to recall the close relationship of cooperation with the University of Brasilia, witnessed not only by the extraordinary presence of Prof. Pane, but also by the contribution made by some eminent UnB scholars to the book “The Italian Embassy in Brasilia. Poetics of Italian Architecture in Brazil’, published in 2021 and available free of charge as an ebook in three languages on the website of our diplomatic office”.
The initiative was organised by the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of the University of Brasilia, with the contribution of the Embassy of Italy in Brazil, the Council of Architecture and Urban Planning of the Federal District and the National Institute of Historical and Artistic Heritage (Iphan), as part of the international technical cooperation project with UNESCO Brazil.
