Franco Maria Ricci e il Labirinto della Masone
9472 Pier Carlo Bontempi
Architettura e Tradizione
Richard H. Driehaus, Orsola Bontempi. Introduction by Prince Charles of Wales
2015 / 184 PAGES.
Language: Italian
The most important monuments by architect Pier Carlo Bontempi are presented in this monograph on the author edited by Franco Maria Ricci, with an introduction signed by the then Prince Charles of Wales, a profound admirer of Bontempi’s work.
‘Crossing the labyrinth or walking through the streets of the historic centre of an Italian city makes us realise how being in an environment with balanced symmetry, on a human scale, positively influences our spirit. It is precisely by following this principle that Bontempi designs and realises its buildings, proportionate and harmonious, making beauty, in the words of Stendhal, the promise of happiness.’ This is how the first section of this volume ends, followed by a collection of images of Pier Carlo Bontempi’s most famous creations: from the province of Parma to Reggio Emilia, from Arezzo to Paris, Bontempi always stands out for his attempt to merge historical tradition with the contemporary world, an attempt that is based on constant attention to the Italian architectural tradition and that stands out from most contemporary architectural trends. The publication closes with a selection of reproductions of watercolours by Giuseppe Greci and an autobiographical note by the architect.