Italian architects defend competition process for Palazzo dei Diamanti

The National Council of Architects, Planners, Landscapers and Conservators (CNAPPC) and the National Institute of Architecture (IN/ARCH) have issued statements defending the international design competition for the reorganization and expansion of the Museo del Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara. The controversy erupted after the Fondazione Cavallini Sgarbi launched a petition titled "Ferrara: Salviamo Palazzo dei Diamanti," prompting a counter-petition "Palazzo dei Diamanti non è in pericolo!" by the winning architecture firm Labics, in collaboration with 3TI progetti, architect Elisabetta Fabbri, and Vitruvio. CNAPPC President Giuseppe Cappochin emphasized the importance of respecting the transparent competition process, which involved dozens of studios and the public, and criticized the late-stage debate. IN/ARCH, led by Andrea Margaritelli, expressed concern over the "worrying polemic" that erupted with "incomprehensible delay," noting that the competition results have been known since November 2017. The institute affirmed that the winning project is characterized by a measured contemporary architectural language, is non-competitive with the historic building, reinterprets the courtyard typology, and is completely reversible. IN/ARCH also expressed surprise that some prominent signatories of the opposing petition have themselves designed projects that are more "audacious" in their dialogue between ancient and contemporary architecture.