PIER CARLO BONTEMPI: THE BIGGEST PROVOCATION IN THE WORLD. THE LABYRINTH OF FRANCO MARIA RICCI AND OTHER ARCHITECTURE

12th November 2015 - 18:30
by Floornature (Paolo Schianchi and Mara Corradi)

You can register for the event on 12th November at FAB Milano by clicking on the link:



The new exhibition area FAB Milano, promoted by Fiandre and Porcelaingres, is continuing its journey of exploration into the world of architecture and design, offering interesting food for thought on contemporary design and design strategies that connote current urban development

"PIER CARLO BONTEMPI: THE BIGGEST PROVOCATION IN THE WORLD. THE LABYRINTH OF FRANCO MARIA RICCI AND OTHER ARCHITECTURE"

This is the title of the event which on 12th November will animate the FAB exhibition area in Via Solferino and that will consist of a conversation between Pier Carlo Bontempi, Paolo Schianchi, manager of the portal Floornature, Paolo Cavaglione, former manager of Walt Disney Company Italia comics, Federica Minozzi, MD of GranitiFiandre, Edoardo Pepino, Franco Maria Ricci's editorial manager and Massimo Spigaroli, chef at the hotel Antica Corte Pallavicina in Polesine Parmense (Parma).

The poetics of Bontempi, a seasoned militant of tradition and a bold supporter of proportion and harmony, will be the focus of the 3 events, designed to investigate the deep relationship that has always connected the architect to great Italian architectural tradition.

This first part held in Milan will provide the opportunity for the official presentation of the monograph, edited by Franco Maria Ricci, “Pier Carlo Bontempi. Architettura e Tradizione” which groups together the architectural view and details of the most significant designs, reserving a special place for the recent complex of the Labirinto della Masone, the biggest labyrinth in the world, designed by Franco Maria Ricci himself and built in Fontanellato, in the countryside outside Parma. A majestic building complex made of bricks which contains a museum, restaurants, a conference hall and a pyramid-shaped chapel and which will represent the starting point and great provocation of this cycle of events: could the labyrinth, with its enigmas, symbology and tradition be a metaphor for contemporary debate on architecture?

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has signed the introduction of the bilingual, English and Italian, version. In fact, Prince Charles has admired Bontempi's work for a long time and shares his commitment to "defend" people-oriented cities, architecture and landscapes.

Franco Maria Ricci commented on the collaboration with Pier Carlo by saying: "Over the years that my labyrinth was being built, I found in Pier Carlo not only a loyal and competent professional, but also a friend. I share his passion for Neoclassicism and in particular for the French architecture of the years leading up to the Revolution: Boullée, Ledoux, Lequeu… their designs and projects, dictated by love for geometry, for Egypt, for the Greek and Roman world, and a visionary and Modern disposition; they are wonders that not many people know about and that I have already helped to rediscover in the past through various books and FMR articles. This book on the work of Bontempi is a suitable tribute to his work and the work of architects who are now supporters of classical tradition."

A selection of water colours painted by Giuseppe Greci will accompany the event, printed in large format on offset paper, documenting the most significant designs implemented, or even just imagined, by the design studio of Pier Carlo Bontempi. In the middle of the gallery large photographs present two designs implemented, which highlight the urban and landscape complexity in which they are set, as well as their minute details.

The evening will close with the cooking show of the chef Massimo Spigaroli, from the Antica Corte Pallavicina, who will delight guests with tasty dishes from the Emilia region.

The theme of Pier Carlo Bontempi will continue in the FAB Castellarano (Reggio Emilia), where on 20th November 2015 an exhibition will be inaugurated, guiding visitors through the discovery of Bontempi's preferred design philosophy, completely offbeat with respect to official contemporary trains of thought. For the finissage on 10th December 2015, still in Castellarano, Pier Carlo Bontempi will sit opposite Raul Pantaleo from TAMassociati for a critical debate aiming to redefine the methods and languages of contemporary architecture entitled “How many traditional architectures?”. The debate will be moderated by the journalist Luca Sommi.

FAB Architectural Bureau Milano
via Solferino, 40
Brera 20121 Milan
https://www.fab-architectural.com