Description

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The highly influential writings by an important early advocate for the conservation of historic cities are made available for the first time in English.

The Italian architect, historian, and restorer Gustavo Giovannoni (1873–1947) was a key figure in the fields of architecture, urbanism, and conservation during the first half of the twentieth century. A traditionalist largely neglected by the proponents of modernist architecture following World War II, he remains little known internationally. His writings, however, until now unavailable in English, represent a significant step toward the full appreciation of the historic city and are directly relevant today to the protection of urban historic resources worldwide.

This abundantly illustrated critical anthology is a representative sample of Giovannoni’s seminal texts related to the appreciation, understanding, and planning of historic cities. The thirty readings, which appear with their original illustrations, are grouped into six parts organized around key concepts in Giovannoni’s conservation theory—urban building, respect for the setting or context, a thinning out of the urban fabric, conservation and restoration treatments, the grafting of the new upon the old, and reconstruction. Each part is preceded by an introduction, and each reading is prefaced by succinct remarks explaining the rationale for its selection and the principal matters covered. Six plate sections further illustrate the readings’ main concepts and themes.

About the Author

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Steven W. Semes, a practicing architect, is professor at the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture and director of its graduate program in historic preservation.

Francesco Siravo is an Italian architect specializing in town planning and historic preservation.

Jeff Cody is an architectural historian with a background in historic preservation planning. He was a senior project specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute from 2004 to 2022.

Praise For…

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“This long-awaited translation of Gustavo Giovannoni's writings marks a significant milestone in conservation literature. It was through Giovannoni's innovative ideas and hands-on experiments that the pursuit of urban conservation emerged in the early twentieth century; his work became the foundation upon which contemporary architectural restoration theory was laid. This publication introduces his clear and prescient insights to a global audience, enriching the field with his powerful contributions.”
—Francesco Bandarin, UNESCO World Heritage Director and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Culture, 2000–2018