Italian Ministry Blocks Palazzo dei Diamanti Expansion Project
The Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, led by Minister Alberto Bonisoli, has blocked the expansion project of Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara, just 24 hours before the deadline for tacit approval from the local Soprintendenza. The project, won by a consortium including 3TI PROGETTI, Labics, architect Elisabetta Fabbri, and Vitruvio s.r.l., aimed to build a reversible pavilion in a neglected grassy area adjacent to the Renaissance palace. Mayor Tiziano Tagliani, who had requested a meeting with Bonisoli, was informed that the Ministry would issue a negative opinion via Director General Gino Famiglietti. Tagliani criticized the decision as influenced by a media and political campaign led by art critic Vittorio Sgarbi, who opposed the project and is rumored to be running for mayor of Ferrara. The Soprintendenza of Bologna, which had collaborated on the project since its inception, is now expected to follow the Ministry's directive. Tagliani noted the irony that the Ministry suggested moving services inside the palace, a plan previously rejected by former Minister Dario Franceschini. The decision has sparked concerns about the future of contemporary architecture in Italy and the autonomy of local cultural institutions.
Key facts
- Minister Alberto Bonisoli blocked the Palazzo dei Diamanti expansion project.
- The project was halted 24 hours before the tacit approval deadline on January 18, 2019.
- Mayor Tiziano Tagliani met with Bonisoli, who announced a negative opinion via Director General Gino Famiglietti.
- The project included a reversible pavilion designed by 3TI PROGETTI, Labics, Elisabetta Fabbri, and Vitruvio s.r.l.
- The Soprintendenza of Bologna had collaborated on the project from the start.
- Vittorio Sgarbi led a media campaign against the project and is rumored to run for mayor.
- Tagliani accused the Ministry of being influenced by populist campaigns.
- The Ministry suggested moving services inside the palace, a plan previously rejected by Franceschini.
Entities
Artists
- Vittorio Sgarbi
- Renzo Piano
- Biagio Rossetti
- Massimiliano Tonelli
- Margherita Guccione
- Pippo Ciorra
- Paolo Mazzoleni
- Diego Farina
- Francesco Miceli
- Alessandro Cimenti
- Andrea Forni
- Fabiola di Battista
- Paolo Marcelli
- Aaron Betsky
- Claudio Strinati
- Aurora Scotti
- Antonio Pinelli
- Maria Grazia Messina
- Maria Cristina Terzaghi
- Fulvio Cervini
- Irene Baldriga
- Xavier Salomon
- Andrea Viliani
- Sandro Polci
Institutions
- Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage
- Soprintendenza of Bologna
- Palazzo dei Diamanti
- 3TI PROGETTI
- Labics
- Vitruvio s.r.l.
- Artribune
- Castello Estense
- Collezione Sgarbi
- Italia Nostra
- Fondazione Cavallini Sgarbi
- change.org
- Comune di Ferrara
- Ministero dei Beni Culturali
- Gallerie Estensi
- MAXXI Architettura
- Università di Camerino
- Ordine degli architetti di Milano
- Ordine degli architetti di Ferrara
- Ordine degli architetti di Palermo
- Fondazione per l’architettura di Torino
- Ordine degli architetti di Sondrio
- Ordine degli architetti di Belluno
- Ordine degli architetti di Forlì/Cesena
- Biennale Architettura
- Cincinnati Art Museum
- School of Architecture a Taliesin
- Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture
- Politecnico di Milano
- Università di Firenze
- Accademia Nazionale di San Luca
- Consiglio Superiore per i Beni Culturali e Paesaggistici
- Università Roma Tre
- Mibac
- Consulta Universitaria Nazionale per la Storia dell’Arte
- ANISA
- The Frick Collection
- Museo Madre
- Legambiente
- Symbola
- Ministero della Cultura
- Soprintendenza
- Prado
- Tate
- Louvre
- Reina Sofia
Locations
- Ferrara
- Italy
- Bologna
- Rome
- Genoa
- Sutri
- New York
- United States
- Milano
- Palermo
- Torino
- Sondrio
- Belluno
- Forlì
- Cesena
- Camerino
- Firenze
- Roma