Application Description

The application is a key component of a museum installation centered around "The Analogous City," an influential artwork created by Aldo Rossi, Eraldo Consolascio, Bruno Reichlin, and Fabio Reinhart for the 1976 Venice Biennale of Architecture. Utilizing augmented reality technology, this application enhances the viewer's experience by overlaying comprehensive references onto a reproduction of The Analogous City, which can be accessed at http://archizoom.epfl.ch. These references are presented on various layers, providing a deeper understanding of the collage's elements.

This digital tool is essential for engaging with the exhibition "Aldo Rossi - The window of the poet, Prints 1973-1997," which is being showcased at three prestigious venues: Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht, Archizoom EPFL in Lausanne, and GAMeC in Bergamo. Visitors can purchase a map of The Analogous City, published by Archizoom, to recreate the interactive museum experience anywhere and anytime. This printed map also includes texts by Aldo Rossi, Fabio Reinhart, and Dario Rodighiero, adding further context to the artwork.

The Analogous City, also known as La Città Analoga, was envisioned as a true urban project, amalgamating various historical and architectural elements. Notable components of the collage include Giovanni Battista Caporali's drawing of Vitruvius’ city (1536), Galileo Galilei's depiction of the Pleiades Constellation (1610), Tanzio da Varallo's painting of David and Goliath (ca 1625), Francesco Borromini's plan of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (1638-1641), the Dufour topographic map (1864), Le Corbusier's general plan of the chapel of Notre Dame du Haut (1954), and multiple architectural projects by Aldo Rossi and his collaborators.

Aldo Rossi's reflection on The Analogous City encapsulates its essence: "Between past and present, reality and imagination, the analogous city is perhaps simply the city to be designed day by day, tackling problems and overcoming them, with a reasonable certainty that things will ultimately be better." This statement was featured in Lotus International n. 13 in 1976, highlighting the ongoing relevance and dynamic nature of the project.

Art & Design