Square Colosseum, a photo from Rome, Lazio

Photographer's Note

"Un popolo di poeti di artisti di eroi di santi di pensatori di scienziati di navigatori di trasmigratori"

"A nation of poets, artists, heroes, saints, thinkers, scientists, navigators, transmigrators"

The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, also known as the “Square Colosseum”, is an icon of Fascist architecture. It was constructed as part of the program of the Esposizione Universale Roma (EUR), a large business center and suburban complex, initiated in 1935 by Benito Mussolini for the planned 1942 world exhibition and as a symbol of fascism for the world. The Palazzo was constructed between 1938 and 1943. Between 2003 and 2008, it has been closed for restoration. From 2015, it will house the headquarters of luxury fashion label for the next 15 years at least.

The design of the "Square Colosseum" was inspired more to celebrate the Colosseum, and the structure was intended by Benito Mussolini as a celebration of the older Roman landmark. Similar to the Colosseum, the palace has a series of superimposed loggias, shown on the façade as six rows of nine arches each.

The palace is entirely clad in travertine marble, as is characteristic of buildings in the EUR. It is a parallelepiped on a square base, with six levels rising above a podium. The scale is imposing: the base covers an area of 8,400 square meters, and the building has volume 205,000 cubic meters with a height 68 meters (50 meters from the base).

source:wiki

WS photo offers a comprehensive view of the building. The area was under construction, and i couldn't have a decent photo, so the WS photo is taken from the web.

COSTANTINO, ikeharel, SnapRJW, holmertz, timecapturer, macjake, daddo, delpeoples, ChrisJ, GyurMaster has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mursaloglu (8682) 2014-07-04 6:25

mükemmel bir kompozisyon harika bir yineleme .....

COSTANTINO (117672) 2014-07-04 6:47

Hello my dear friend
I liked this presentation of Square Colosseum
constructed as part of the program of the
Esposizone Universale Roma
I also liked the phrase offers a
comprehensive view of the building
symmetry and nice inspiration
regards
Costantino

Sergiom (117241) 2014-07-04 7:04

Bonjour Deniz,

J'aime bien ce cadrage serré sur les fausses arches car cela produit un bel effet graphique très intéressant. J'aime aussi la symétrie de l'ensemble.

Amicalement

Serge

Fis2 (171823) 2014-07-04 7:17

Witaj Deniz!
Interesting photo.
Excellent geometry frame.
I like colors and contrast.
Well done.
Have a nice afternoon
Krzysztof

SnapRJW (31631) 2014-07-04 11:24

Hi Deniz - I am ashamed to say that I have never heard of this building so your shot is both interesting and finely presented. I like the fact that you have reduced the architecture to a highly stylised, graphical composition. The repeating arches with the slivers of sunlight within some of them is bold and beautifully simple. As for the initiator of the project.... no comment!

Warm regards

Rosemary

No_One (4) 2014-07-04 11:36

Hi Deniz
Great idea to focus on this small part of the building, creating a surreal scene of architecture that must comes as a surprise to anyone who sees it. The barley lit insides in some of the arches are a tantalizing feel for what lies inside, but yet the darkness creates a sense of warning. Thanks for the workshop, great to see the structure in its entirety, but the main post is brilliant. Eyecatching and unique
Cheers
Noel

holmertz (103540) 2014-07-04 12:06

Hello Deniz,
I have a suspicion that some people believe I only like photos with a lot of people. That is not at all correct. I also love this kind of tightly cropped, graphically refined and deceivingly simple compositions. I like very much the contrasts of light and darkness and the irregular traces of light inside some of the dark areas. The WS makes me think of a painting by De Chirico. (That one could have needed some more space on the sides, but that was not up to you.)
Kind regards,
Gert

resat1972 (7586) 2014-07-04 12:09

merhaba

harika olmuş
sanki bir der grafiği
muhteşem
selamlar

Reşat

carlo62 (81265) 2014-07-04 16:57

Ciao Deniz
bello scorcio, un ottimo taglio e una luce calda che avvolge tutta l'architettura.
Bella anche la foto del ws, ma molto più classica e utilizzata.
Buon we
Carlo

timecapturer (49288) 2014-07-05 3:51

Hi Deniz
love this! A clever and creative crop which has perfectly managed light and shade to make it both powerful and arty. Could almost be a poster advertising the City of Rome. Striking and graphically perfect imagery!
Excellent!

Enjoy the weekend - B.

marabu61 (11587) 2014-07-05 8:51

Hello Deniz
Great graphism in this simple but very attractive composition. The neat inscription on top contrasts beautifully with the symmetric arches and the lithe splashes of light in some of the arches add a lot to the success of this picture. Great work.
have a great weekend
Daniel

siudzi (34141) 2014-07-05 8:57

Hi Deniz,
An impressive visual effect was achieved here due to the graphical layout of your composition. Brilliant idea for image! Perfectly taken as always. Love it!

Best,
Gosia

macjake (98544) 2014-07-05 15:53

Hi Deniz
where the heck have you been my friend!??

great to see you back with a new photo, but I have a feeling you'll be away from TE again...it seems to be your pattern lately.

Well, you can cough this up as one of those buildings in Rome I didn't get to see in person. The funny thing is I probably walked right be it and didn't know it!

love the crop, love the dark blacks against the light browns. Cool shot.

Hope to see you around!
I'll be posting a shot from Balat in the next day or so.

cheers
craig

daddo (28748) 2014-07-06 4:01

Amazing effect Deniz. Looks like a poster from the 1930's(Art Deco).You used the play of light and shadow to full effect to create an artistic impression of your own.Selam .Klaudio.

emka (158680) 2014-07-06 6:27

Hi Deniz,
It is really strange that this fine building and with good photo opportunities is not known here on TE. Maybe the notion of fascist architecture makes it less inviting. I remembered Giorgio's photos h e r e
many years ago and I wanted to see it but I was in Rome only two days so I saw if only from the bus going to Fiumicino Airport.
Superb composition, perfect square cut, very graphic, and beautiful light. I like most here these orange flames, charming and creative.
Brilliant

WArm regrads MAlgo

delpeoples (60342) 2014-07-16 5:16

Ciao merhaba dear Deniz

Being biased, of course I would say that these words ring very true :) I never noticed this building when I was in Rome, you've done an amazing job capturing it. The tight cropping is extremely effective and compelling, highlighting the graphism and symmetry of the building. I also like the black framing, which is weird because I'm not usually a fan of any framing.

Excellent shot and superb accompanying note.

I hope you're keeping well, have a happy day
Lisa

ChrisJ (172378) 2014-07-22 4:37

Merhaba Deniz,

Amazing repetition of the arch patterns with pinpoint sharpness as evidenced by the text at the top. Fine words, but Mussolini was a Fascist Dictator who aspired to none of the words in the text, but saw them merely as a Nationalistic propaganda tool to further his own ends. It ended badly for him. I like the curved crescent shapes within some of the arches. Tfs!

Silvio1953 (222779) 2014-08-12 0:45

Ciao Deniz, lovely and original shoot, beautiful graphic and splendid clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

GyurMaster (25000) 2015-08-02 3:20

Flawless abstract photo! Congratulations, no more words needed to say. :)