18 aprile

Fredrik Torisson: Roma Termini Reframed

Fredrik Torisson is Postdoctoral Fellow at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation in Copenhagen and Researcher at the Centre for Privacy Studies, Copenhagen University. Torisson also holds the annual fellowship in architecture at the Swedish Institute (2018/19). This talk will present his ongoing project in Rome.

Abstract:
In his short essay “Rom: Eine äestetische Analyse” originally published in Die Zeit 1898, sociologist Georg Simmel focuses the relationship between the singular historical object and the unintentional and contradictory, but nevertheless fantastic whole into which every historical object in Rome is inscribed.
The proposed project will be discussing the complex structure of Roma Termini in terms of parts and a whole. Simmel’s observations form the point of departure for the project, but in order to develop the question, I will build on the French philosopher Gilbert Simondon’s anti-hylomorphic take on parts and whole. In particular, I want to think about Termini in Simondon’s terms of “operational solidarity” coming together in a whole which is different than the sum of its parts. Although Simmel and Simondon speak from two very different perspectives – aesthetical unity in multiplicity vs. operational solidarity and becoming – they both insist that the whole is something other than the sum of its parts. To discuss how this other whole could be understood is the aim of the project at hand. It should perhaps be emphasised that the whole is, within the context of this project, to be understood solely in non-essentialist terms.
The hypothesis is that we miss something if we understand Roma Termini architecturally as fragments or a series of snapshots from architectural history – romanità, organic architecture, etc. And, accepting this, that an analysis of the station complex as a functional whole hypothetically could provide a different perspective, and a different view on architecture.
This is a project that focuses on the theory of architecture and architectural historiography and it involves perspectives on time, on architecture, and on the discipline of architectural history. The project is a free-standing investigation, which at this moment is at the outset. Consequently, the presentation will present points of departure and initial thoughts rather than any conclusions or research material.

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