AWC 30 – THE CLUB OF ROME

The extensive research in the oeuvre of the Sangallos carried out in one of the previous iterations of Architecture Without Content proved to be a valuable exercise in architectural knowledge. A somewhat ludicrous idea to abolish the historical reference, in favour of an intrinsically historical project, paradoxically resulted in remarkably contemporary design strategies. Relieved from the pressure of current trends, the Sangallos provided us with an excuse to challenge authorship, negotiate norms and develop a possible design theory. According to Aldo Rossi, this is the most important moment of every architecture: to develop a set of principles that define a practice. What a better way to test this knowledge than going back to Rome, albeit five hundred years later? For the 30th incarnation of Architecture Without Content, we wanted to investigate the idea of a club – a place which simultaneously references the elitism of gentlemen clubs as well as the commonality of early twentieth century worker's clubs.