David Chipperfield to Restore Brescia's Roman Theatre

David Chipperfield and his Milan studio have been commissioned by Fondazione Brescia Musei to develop the architectural and strategic framework for the restoration and re-functionalization of the Roman Theatre in Brescia. Built in the 1st century AD during the Flavian dynasty, the theatre is made of Medolo limestone, marble, and brick, and was carved into the slope of Colle Cidneo. It served as a public infrastructure and civic symbol, reaching its peak under the Severan dynasty. After earthquakes, urban transformations, and collapses between the 4th and 6th centuries, it was incorporated into residential structures, including Palazzo Maggi Gambara, by the 10th century. Excavated in the 20th century, the site has since undergone a long restoration process. Chipperfield's project focuses on three elements: the theatre as an archaeological site, as an architectural artifact, and as a space originally intended for performance. The goal is not to reconstruct but to reinterpret, re-establishing the hemicycle's order, enhancing the lost geometry, giving coherence to fragments, and restoring meaning and function. Palazzo Maggi Gambara will become the main entrance and technical center for theatrical activities. Chipperfield stated the approach balances history, archaeology, and memory with the present, addressing the incompleteness of the ruins to allow continuity of purpose as an urban infrastructure.