On January 30, 2025, in the splendid setting of the Sala Protomoteca in Campidoglio, the “ROMA MANIFESTO” conference took place, attracting over 200 participants, including professionals, academics, and enthusiasts of the future of the Capital. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with energy from the participants’ enthusiasm and the significance of the topics discussed. The event was inaugurated by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who, in his opening speech, emphasized the importance of an open and shared dialogue to envision and build a Rome capable of meeting future challenges. He highlighted how Rome must continue to be a model of an inclusive and sustainable city, one that values its historical heritage while addressing contemporary needs.
Following this, Simona Finessi and Angelo Dadda, founders of Platform, delivered welcoming remarks, reflecting on the initiative’s value and the importance of collaboration among institutions, professionals, and citizens. Finessi and Dadda underlined how issue #49 of Platform magazine, entirely dedicated to Rome and titled “Roma Manifesto,” is not just a tribute to the city but also an invitation to imagine new possibilities for its future while preserving its extraordinary cultural and social complexity.
The conference was structured into three main sessions, each addressing fundamental themes for the future of the Capital.
The first session, “Roma Manifesto: Strategies in the Present for the City’s Future” was moderated by Luca Molinari, Editorial Director of Platform and Professor at the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli. Among the speakers were Maurizio Veloccia, Councillor for Urban Planning and the 15-Minute City, Eloisa Susanna, and Matteo Costanzo, senior architects of the Roma050 Laboratory. Their contributions outlined innovative and sustainable urban strategies developed by the working group coordinated by Stefano Boeri, aimed at providing public administration and private investors with a forward-looking guideline that views the metropolitan area as a novel, significant urban and community ecosystem.
The second session, “The Centrality of Design,” was moderated by Paola Pierotti, co-founder of PPAN. This session featured some of the most prominent figures in the Roman architectural scene, whose recent works are showcased in the Platform Roma/Manifesto issue: Maria Claudia Clemente (Labics), Professor at Sapienza University of Rome and architect co-founder, Annalisa Metta (OSA), Professor at Roma Tre University and architect co-founder, Massimo Alvisi (Alvisi Kirimoto), architect co-founder, Alessandro Cambi (IT’S), architect co-founder, Antonio Atripaldi (ADAT Studio), architect co-founder, Riccardo Roselli (Roselli Architetti), architect and founding partner, and Filippo Lambertucci, Professor at Sapienza University of Rome. The discussions emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and design focused on architectural quality and widespread sustainability. The role of the architect was highlighted as a conscious vector of project quality, visions, and complex strategies capable of interpreting the richness of the existing physical and social context. Throughout the interventions, architecture was presented as a tool to counter the fear of the future and as a central element in rethinking the city’s most fragile and peripheral spaces.
The third and final session, “Between Center and Periphery: Visions for the Near Future,” was again moderated by Luca Molinari. It explored the delicate balance between the historic center and the peripheries, aiming to move beyond the traditional dichotomy and view them as a unique, fluid, and complex entity characterizing today’s Roman metropolis. Speakers included Marco Filoni, Professor at Link University in Rome, Walter Tocci, Mayor’s Consultant for the CArMe project, Alberto Iacovoni, architect and co-founder of ma0 architecture studio, Daniele Balicco, Professor at Roma Tre University and coordinator of the Roma Ricerca Roma research group, and Orazio Carpenzano, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Sapienza University of Rome. The discussion focused on an innovative and experimental reading of the center-periphery relationship, fostering a holistic approach that enhances every district of the city. This perspective aims to contribute to Rome’s harmonious and inclusive revitalization through a commitment to care and attention to climate change, necessitating innovative design and disciplinary tools that make this city the most important architectural laboratory in Italy.
Throughout the day, the audience was actively engaged in stimulating and insightful discussions. Recurring themes included time as a crucial element for effective planning and the importance of preserving architectural works to ensure their long-term durability. Another central point of debate was the need for a design approach that goes beyond immediate demands, providing added value to the city and its inhabitants.
The conference concluded in an atmosphere of great enthusiasm, with a shared commitment to continue working together to build an increasingly open and innovative Rome. This event was not only a celebration of the city but also an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and lay the foundation for a shared future in which Rome can be a protagonist of positive and lasting change, serving as a model for other major European metropolises.
Platform Network Srl © Luigi De Pompeis
