Discovering the Altera Forma Urbis of Rome through a site-specific project and performance at Garbatella district, Rome.

The research enquiry involved experimental research and case study using location-based digital technologies ( Geo-Blog ) and perception mapping as a further methodological development of Scenarchitecture , a trans-disciplinary methodology developed by Moneta (2012) for reading and interpreting the Genius Loci. It was based on recent work of Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Lugli and his son Pier Maria Lugli (2006) about the ‘Altera Forma Urbis’ of Rome, which investigates the hidden, ‘secret’ structural urban form of Rome in the shape of a ‘Star’. The research was aimed at uncovering old and recent past history of Garbatella district and XI Municipality, as the place in which exists a concentration of urban modifications of Rome, through its connections with Lugli’s studies. Using a hermeneutic phenomenology approach with a focus on making meaning of experiences as they are lived, the research revealed both physical and intangible connections between the Altera Forma Urbis of Rome and its contemporary urban structure within the area of study. Findings evidenced that extending the shape of the ‘Star’ from the original 1 st mile radius of the Ancient Rome to 5-mile radius of contemporary city limits, there is a correspondence between the area of study’s main monuments and landmarks with the Star’s generating axes. Evidence of the originality of the findings were an exhibition ( Segni Percorsi ) commissioned and funded by ‘Urban Centre - Municipio Roma XI’, and a sited performance ( Tramandala ) commissioned and funded by Festival Teatri di Vetro 3, a renowned Festival of performing arts, and Fondazione Romaeuropa, one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in Europe. Feedback collected during the exhibition and after the performance evidenced the engagement of the audience with the themes and methods of the research. The dissemination of the work included the authored book Scenarchitettura (2012), article on journal Hortus (2009) and research report on Zenodo (2022).


Narrative:
The research enquiry involved experimental research and case study using location-based digital technologies (Geo-Blog) and perception mapping as a further methodological development of Scenarchitecture, a trans-disciplinary methodology developed by Moneta (2012) for reading and interpreting the Genius Loci.It was based on recent work of Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Lugli and his son Pier Maria Lugli (2006) about the 'Altera Forma Urbis' of Rome, which investigates the hidden, 'secret' structural urban form of Rome in the shape of a 'Star'.The research was aimed at uncovering old and recent past history of Garbatella district and XI Municipality, as the place in which exists a concentration of urban modifications of Rome, through its connections with Lugli's studies.Using a hermeneutic phenomenology approach with a focus on making meaning of experiences as they are lived, the research revealed both physical and intangible connections between the Altera Forma Urbis of Rome and its contemporary urban structure within the area of study.Findings evidenced that extending the shape of the 'Star' from the original 1 st mile radius of the Ancient Rome to 5-mile radius of contemporary city limits, there is a correspondence between the area of study's main monuments and landmarks with the Star's generating axes.Evidence of the originality of the findings were an exhibition (Segni Percorsi) commissioned and funded by 'Urban Centre -Municipio Roma XI', and a sited performance (Tramandala) commissioned and funded by Festival Teatri di Vetro 3, a renowned Festival of performing arts, and Fondazione Romaeuropa, one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in Europe.Feedback collected during the exhibition and after the performance evidenced the engagement of the audience with the themes and methods of the research.The dissemination of the work included the authored book Scenarchitettura (2012), article on journal Hortus ( 2009) and research report on Zenodo (2022).

Context: the Altera Forma Urbis of Rome
The 'Star of Rome' was a research study by architect Pier Maria Lugli, that identified the hidden alignments in the topography of ancient Rome and the reconstruction of the 'Altera Forma Urbis' of the city, or its 'other' (secret) form.The research was taken up by prof Gianfranco Moneta within his academic research on the urban morphology and transformation of the city of Rome, and then applied to his Module of architectural design at University La Sapienza.Methodology: Mapping through location-based digital technologies (Geo-Blog) and the Altera Forma Urbis Using a hermeneutic phenomenology approach, the research revealed physical and intangible connections between the Altera Forma Urbis and its contemporary urban structure, identifying significant patterns that led its development.
A perception mapping was also used to explore the Garbatella district through the senses and a relational engagement with it, to record feelings and moods, to discover the hidden stories of the places, to experience direct contact with the inhabitants and to report all of this in the form of graphic indications, texts, photos, videos, interviews.
Geo-Blog mapping of the Garbatella district.

Performance Tramandala 15-24 May 2009
The research materials and methods informed a site-specific performance, using the 'Altera Forma Urbis' of Rome physical and intangible connections with Garbatella district and the stories of the people that lived there.It included the Reading the site using Psychogeography methods (Debord et al, 1981;Powell, 2010); Script writing inspired by historical facts balancing authenticity with interpretation; CosProp, Bike-scene design for each selected story/character as wearable/portable scenic elements during the promenade storytelling; Devising performances to depict and interpret the places and characters, pairing stories with a specific place of the building lots of Garbatella.

Performance Tramandala 15-24 May 2009
Being part of a site-specific theatre festival that used different locations, the students' performance was designed to be a 'fil rouge' to link the different Lots where the performances of the festival were held in a scheduled sequence during each day.Tramandala was then a 'walking performance' with three different paths, each of them including a number of 'stations' used for short performances.In final station, the audience gathered in a courtyard where a 'Star' made with laser beam, physically connected the 'Altera Forma Urbis' with each of the performers/characters of the performance.

Exhibition Segni Percorsi 16-22 May 2009
The rich material of the project analysis offered an equally rich production of operational and design proposals, which then merged into the design material exhibited in the Segni Percorsi exhibition held at Urban Centre of Rome Municipality XI.The idea of giving visibility to the research's original methodology and territorial analysis was enthusiastically welcomed by the Urban Centre Director, Federica Zampa, who included the official opening of the exhibition and launch of the project in the Urban Centre's public programme of events, during the same timeline of Teatri di Vetro's programme.

Outcome/Impact
The two output received substantial support for promotion and further dissemination by the partner organisations of the project through their marketing and communication channels, increasing the reach and impact of research Images from: Leante, M. (2008) Una Stella chiamata Roma.Lecture at University La Sapienza The original 'Star of Rome' built at 1 st Roman Mile The expanded 'Star of Rome' built at 5 th Mile Context: The historic Garbatella district in Rome My Module of Scenography developed an interest on the theme of urban transformations, and identified the XI Municipality (Ostiense and Garbatella districts), as the place in which exists a concentration of most evident and substantial urban modifications of the city of Rome.The aim was to use Lugli's and G. Moneta's research to investigate the relationship between ancient and present urban form.Research Questions: • How the 'Altera Forma Urbis'' of Rome, the 'other' (secret) form of the city might be shared, showcased, and promoted to maximize the research project's reach and significance?• What are the links between 'Altera Forma Urbis'' of Rome and more recent history of Garbatella district?• How can we creatively use Ancient Rome and recent history of Garbatella to enhance both the Urban Centre's cultural activities and Public Programme, and Teatri di Vetro's site-specific performance Festival?
The Star's radius at 1 st and 5 th mile;Area of study with axis, nodes and monuments(Leante, 2008)    Research constitutes a further development of Scenarchitecture, a research methodology developed byMoneta (2012)  for interpreting the Genius Loci.Context: Teatri di Vetro Festival Teatri di Vetro 3 Festival in the Garbatella district was the perfect opportunity to disseminate the research.It is a one-of-a-kind and well established site-specific performance festival that take place in the courtyards of building lots of Garbatella.It is organised in collaboration with the Roma Europa-Palladium Foundation and the Municipality of Rome.Both the exhibition 'Segni Percorsi' and the performance 'Tramandala' were included in the festival program.
outcomes: Output 1 by Roma Europa-Palladium Foundation, Triangolo Scaleno Teatro and Festival Teatri di Vetro 3. Output 2 by the Municipality XI of Rome and Urban Centre.Feedback collected during the exhibition and after the performance evidenced an improved engagement of the audience with the ancient and recent past of Garbatella.The dissemination of the work includes published articles on (H)ortus and Zenodo.