Paolo Portoghesi: Architecture between History, Politics and Media

Through the work of the Italian architect, theorist and historian Paolo Portoghesi (1931–2023), this book offers a new perspective on postmodern architecture, showing the agency of other spheres of knowledge – history, politics and media – in the making of postmodern architectural discourse.

It explores how Portoghesi's personal ‘postmodern project’ was based on the triangulation of a renewed interest in historical architectural language, unprecedented use of media and intertwined links between architecture and politics. Organized in a sequence of critical chapters supported by the analysis of Portoghesi's most significant architectural projects – including Casa Baldi (1959), The Mosque in Rome (1975–95) and his Strada Novissima exhibition (1980) – and publications, the book unfolds around Portoghesi’s academic, professional and institutional networks and cultural trajectories and initiatives.

Published as part of the Bloomsbury Studies in Modern Architecture series, which brings to light the work of significant yet overlooked modernist architects, this study presents Portoghesi in his multifaceted role of mediator, politician, historian and designer.

For the table of contents, please see https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/paolo-portoghesi-9781350117136/

Book preview @ https://youtu.be/Iawq67E8BtM

 Paolo Portoghesi: Architecture between History, Politics and Media featured amongst the fourteen architecture books selected by the Architecture Foundation (London) for their 2023 Book Week, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN91oqFD4_E&list=PL4mkZZN7AjRFVxVXfMjn8q1mInKr81_hq&index=11

The book was launched at the Politecnico di Milano, Charles Jencks Foundation (The Cosmic House, London), the University of Manchester and EPFL, Lausanne, in 2024 and will next be presented at the MAXXI in Rome in 2025.