Paolo Portoghesi on Postmodernism, Curves, and the Legacy of Casa Baldi

In a 2020 interview republished after his death, architect Paolo Portoghesi (1931–2023) reflects on his career, his role as a pioneer of postmodernism, and his philosophy of architecture as rooted in place and nature. Portoghesi discusses his first independent project, Casa Baldi (1959–1961), a villa near Rome with curved walls and a projecting cornice, which he describes as a rebellion against rationalism and the International Style. He also talks about Casa Papanice (late 1960s), a multi-story villa in Rome clad in cylindrical tubes, inspired by Borromini and intended to appeal to children. Portoghesi notes that American theorist Charles Jencks classified Casa Baldi as postmodern in the first edition of 'The Language of Post-Modern Architecture,' but considered Casa Papanice late modern. Portoghesi expresses disappointment with postmodernism's later ironic and cynical turn. He discusses his concept of 'geo-architecture,' a term borrowed from Le Corbusier but with different content, focusing on architecture as care for the environment in the Anthropocene. Portoghesi also describes his use of light, inspired by Borromini, including a 'double lining' technique and a continuous light slit in the Great Mosque of Rome, his acknowledged masterpiece. He recalls inviting Hans Hollein to the 1980 Venice Architecture Biennale, which he directed under the title 'The Presence of the Past.' Portoghesi, a long-time professor at La Sapienza University in Rome, died in Calcata in 2023.