IT'S Studio Disowns Piazza dei Cinquecento Project in Rome

The architecture studio IT'S has publicly disowned the ongoing redevelopment of Piazza dei Cinquecento in Rome, citing that the realized work deviates profoundly from the winning competition design. The studio, part of a consortium that won the 2021 international competition for the urban regeneration of the Termini node, claims it has been excluded from the execution phases since December 2024. Recent asphalt paving, which contradicts the project's core principle of soil permeability, triggered the disavowal. The studio criticizes the lack of involvement in artistic direction and the loss of key elements such as the BikeUp bicycle parking and the planned arboretum. They emphasize the importance of architectural authorship and the need for a systemic approach to urban transformations, including construction, management, and communication. The project, led by ANAS (part of FS Italiane) as implementing body, is scheduled to continue until August 11, 2026. The studio, which also recently won the Roma REgeneration competition with OMA, calls for a reflection on the quality and process of large-scale urban projects in Italy.