Restoration and enhancement of the Temple of Venus and Roma and of the Curiae Veteres in the area of the Colosseum archaeological park
Restoration and enhancement of the Temple of Venus and Roma and of the Curiae Veteres in the area of the Colosseum archaeological park by Daniela Borgese, R.O.M.A Consorzio in ATI con Officina Restauro (Domus Gold Medal 2021)
This project was awarded for the work of restoration and enhancement of the Temple of Venus and Roma and of the Curiae Veteres in the area of the Colosseum archaeological park. Most importantly it tackles a highly-stratified, ancient architecture “reconfigured” by previous interventions and is based on an accurate analysis of the monument, both as relates to the construction techniques and to the investigations of the constituent materials, paying particular attention to previous documentation, dating as far back as the 19th century, and to the study of major restorations carried out in the 1930s.
In this last case, it is important to note the painstaking conservation work, which together with a sophisticated critical reinterpretation led to an interesting colour rebalancing of the mortars used to restore the drums of the columns raised between 1932 and 1935 and the floor joints of the Roma cella. The opus signinum floor of the Venus cella subtly provides a general idea of the original design, using information obtained from documents. The choices, supported by critical assessments, are usually understated and offer suggestions which do not conceal any of the strata of the monument studied and preserved.
Brief analysis of the case:
The intervention carried out on this important archaeological site consisted of the consolidation of the existing structures and the reintegration of the gaps in the existing masonry with materials similar to those existing in the structure. At the same time, an intervention has been carried out to condition the space and the pavements to allow accessibility for the public and visitors.