Marcello Piacentini

Olivari Designers

Marcello Piacentini

Olivari Designers

ROMA, 1881-1960

The son of a prestigious architect and a student at the Istituto Superiore di Belle Arti in Rome, Piacentini debuts with a neo-renaissance style and wins the competition for the urban planning of the Bergamo centre (1907-1927). After a few works influenced by the Viennese Secession (Cinema Corso, Rome 1915) starting in the 1920s, he becomes the major interpreter of the monumentalism of the Fascist regime, covering several institutional roles at the forefront.

Libertas, Olivari, fuori produzione
Libertas
1932 - Out of production
Iustitia, Olivari, fuori produzione
Iustitia
1932 - Out of production
Marcello Piacentini

The son of a prestigious architect and a student at the Istituto Superiore di Belle Arti in Rome, Piacentini debuts with a neo-renaissance style and wins the competition for the urban planning of the Bergamo centre (1907-1927).

Piacentini also designed two handles, Iustitia and Libertas, which are still in use in the halls of this impressive building. These two are considered to be among the earliest “classic” Olivari styles.

PALAZZO DI GIUSTIZIA — SEE THE PROJECT

— Libertas, Olivari, fuori produzione
— Iustitia, Olivari, fuori produzione
— Città Universitaria, Roma 1932

His creations are quite numerous in all major Italian cities, characterized by a severe style and features of Metaphysical Art.
His major works are the Palace of Justice in Milan (1932-1940), the University City in Rome (1932), and the EUR neighborhood, which was supposed to the site for 1942 Universal Exposition in Rome.