Habere – Calvino’s Ideal City (part one of a trilogy)

Created for ACER – Associazione Costruttori Edili di Roma e Provincia (Italy) for their 2007, annual conference, Auditorium, Rome, Italy

3 screen/projector presentation, ratio 10:3, 4 min. Dataton Watchout using mixed media integrating 3 live video inputs. Approx. screen size 2.3 x 7 m.

Multivision conference opener, a concept inspired by the “Invisible Cities” by Italo Calvino. To present the historical-cultural aspect of ‘building’ for ‘housing’ needs. the ideal city focusing on culture, industry or nature, and today on that “urban breath” that represents the discriminating quality of the citizens’ lives. If a city is to be a living museum, it should never evolve and should not even modify the number of its inhabitants and its economy.

Rome has changed many times over the centuries, from Roman to medieval, from Baroc to today’s city. Changing in a consistent manner with the economic development and the quality of life of its citizens that makes Rome eternal. It is this mixture of ancient and modern that generates a new function and sets an identity for ever.

Alex Rowbotham programmed Watchout in addition to creating the primary design, artwork and art direction. AGRfoto provided some existing library stock.

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