June 2021

Situated on Piazza Indipendenza, Teatro Fellini and the main square serves as a reminder to the rapid development of a largely uninhabited area. Small towns and cities throughout Latina were rapidly constructed during the 1920s and 1930s, and the Pontine Plain transformed from vast marshes plagued by malaria to a sea of scaffolding. While the scaffolding has disappeared, the Teatro and Pontinia still remain.

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The city under construction inspired the Back of House Haus, a home and atelier for four young architects. We recreated the scaffolding characterized in post cards of bygone eras, creating a light and temporal intervention. The BOHH gently wraps the existing Teatro Fellini, and only connects with the building at the balconies and at Studiamo, the collective atelier. A series of platforms and stairs wind through the scaffolding structure, connecting the personal units and shared spaces. An elevator acts as a secondary circulation, providing extra exhibition space which passes through both the home and atelier. The BOHH is organized with special attention to the relationship of public and private spaces. The most intimate spaces, our personal bedrooms, are placed on the blind wall of the Teatro, lining the alley between the buildings. The more public, and shared spaces, are placed on the backyard, overlooking the open space. The open space in the backyard will be revitalized with trees, and provide additional space for the weekly markets hosted in the main piazza.

 

In addition to hosting markets, we plan to transform the former Dopo Lavoro ballroom into a Model Workshop, which will also provide free tools to the citizens of Pontinia. We also purpose a vast architectural library in order to preserve and protect the historic buildings and sites of Pontinia.  Studiamo rises above all the other volumes to overlook both the backyard and the square. We also hope to give back some of the unused spaces within the southern wing of the Teatro. Perhaps the most drastic change comes when night settles in, and the interwoven spaces transform into small lanterns, drawing the residents of Pontinia back to their beloved Teatro.

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Designed in collaboration with Bianca Salone, Christos Leonidou and Xinwei Li. All images shown were generated by Mackenzie Bailey.