ZAM Project Unveiled for Rome's Former Mint Building

Alfonso Femia, leading Atelier(S) Alfonso Femia/AF517 with a consortium of specialists, won the international competition to redevelop the former Zecca d'Italia (Italian Mint) in Rome's Esquilino district. The project scored 98.75/100, surpassing seven other shortlisted teams. Mayor Virginia Raggi, Urban Planning Councillor Luca Montuori, and CEO Paolo Aielli presented the proposal. The competition launched in March 2018, with the winner announced in March 2019. The final project is due January 2020, executive plan by August 2020, construction start June 2021, and completion estimated May 2023. The Ministry of Economy and Finance allocated €35 million: €27 million for works, €5 million for interior fittings, and €3 million for technical and administrative costs. The 16,000-square-meter building, inactive since 2006, was inaugurated on December 27, 1911, under King Vittorio Emanuele III. It houses the historic Scuola d'Arte della Medaglia, which will remain and expand with new ateliers. The design preserves original features while adding terraces, skylights, and golden shading systems. The program includes a 4,300-square-meter temporary exhibition space, conference center, craft center, cultural services hub, library with historical archive, new workshops for the medal school, bookshop, café, and guesthouse. The project aims to create a multifunctional cultural hub, integrating tradition and innovation, and to catalyze urban regeneration in the Esquilino district.