Luigi Pellegrin: Visions of Architecture in Pisa

The exhibition “Luigi Pellegrin: Visions of Architecture in Pisa” extends the Rome exhibition “Copying Saturn”, dedicated to the work of the Italian architect. More specifically, the “Segno01” section focuses on the Concetto Marchesi school complex in Pisa, built as a result of a 1972 National Competition, and an example of Brutalism in Italy.



“Luigi Pellegrin, Visioni di Architettura a Pisa” (Luigi Pellegrin: Visions of Architecture in Pisa) is organised by the Associazione Culturale Pisastudium, together with Studio Bianchi and the Italian association of architecture and criticism (AIAC - Associazione Italiana Architettura e Critica) and complements the 2014 exhibition in Rome titled “Copiare Saturno” (Copying Saturn).





The striking spaces of the Bastione Sangallo provide a perfect backdrop for the exhibition – very popular with locals and tourists alike – which has its own bespoke arrangement so the second part of the exhibition route tells the story of French-born naturalised Italian architect, Luigi Pellegin’s ties with Pisa.





Ties that came about through the Concetto Marchesi educational complex built after a national competition was held in 1972, and opened in 1974, an example of Pellegrin’s design approach and of the Italian style of Brutalist architecture. Reactions to the structure were immediately controversial but as we have seen a number of times in our blog (Oslo, Birmingham), this attitude to Brutalism seems to be the same, whatever country you’re in. Another reason why the exhibition was accompanied by a tour of the Concetto Marchesi educational complex – to get a hands-on experience of the contrast between Pellegrin’s intentions and the result in the territory.



The “Segno01” section of the exhibition “Luigi Pellegrin, Visioni di Architettura a Pisa” is dedicated to the architecture designed and built by Pellegrin – whose work was influenced by Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright – showing us some of the architect’s drawings as well as the other projects selected in the 1972 competition for the school complex, thus giving visitors a snapshot of Italian architecture in the early ‘70s.

(Christiane Bürklein)

Exhibition: “Luigi Pellegrin: Visions of Architecture in Pisa”
organised by the Pisastudium cultural association, with Studio Bianchi and the Italian Architecture and Criticism Association
Location: Bastione Sangallo, Pisa
Date: 5 – 15 marzo 2015
Images: © Vincenzo Bellarte http://www.vincenzolabellarte.it/