The Case of Marcello Guido: Zevi's Forgotten Heir

Architect Marcello Guido, championed by critic Bruno Zevi as one of the most important architects of his generation, has been systematically marginalized by the architectural establishment. Zevi repeatedly cited Guido in his writings, including 'Storia e Controstoria dell’Architettura in Italia,' while ignoring mainstream figures like Michele De Lucchi, Cino Zucchi, and Stefano Boeri. Guido's work is characterized by dissonance, deconstruction, and an aggressive, unpeaceful approach, drawing comparisons to Daniel Libeskind. At the 2018 centenary exhibition 'Gli architetti di Zevi' at MAXXI (April 25–September 16, 2018), curated by Pippo Ciorra and Jean-Louis Cohen, Guido was relegated to a timeline rather than given a dedicated panel, effectively erasing his significance. The article argues that this marginalization stems from a broader attempt to sanitize Zevi's legacy, focusing on his early support for architects like Albini and Scarpa while ignoring his later radical positions. Guido's projects, such as the Museum of Horse in Bisignano (2002–06) and Piazza Antonio Toscano in Cosenza (1999–2001), exemplify his anti-classical, expressionist approach. The author, Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi, contends that Guido is the true heir to Zevi's architectural philosophy, which embraces irregularity and rejects universal forms.