The exhibition showcases the 41 projects submitted for the Connessioni Urbane competition. The works—exploring the relationship between past and future, nature and artifice, and the individual and the collective—highlight the active involvement of younger generations in urban regeneration processes. Artists from the Academies of Fine Arts of Florence and Rome, the Brera Academy, the Carrara Academy, as well as from the Faculty of Architecture at Sapienza University of Rome, took on the challenge of giving an artistic identity to the long boundary wall of the Edificio Polifunzionale in Via del Crocifisso, located between the building and the Roma San Pietro railway station.

The initiative is part of a broader urban redevelopment process made possible by the design developed by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, and delivered by Techbau S.p.A. The Connessioni Urbane competition provided young artists with a concrete opportunity for experimentation and growth, placing the dialogue between contemporary art, public space and community at its core.

The jury—composed of Cristina Mazzantini, Director of GNAMC, Andrea Marchiori, CEO of Techbau S.p.A., and Architect Mario Cucinella—selected the ten finalist works, exhibited in the first two rooms of the Soppalco Aldrovandi.

With a focus on inclusion and recognition, the exhibition also dedicates space to all other submissions received, giving visibility to the richness and diversity of the artistic interpretations presented.

The Artworks:

1st Prize – Diego Gualandris – “Meithras”

Named after the solar deity, Meithras transforms the wall between the “Crocifisso” Multipurpose Centre and the Roma San Pietro station into a continuous painted surface, reinterpreting an element of separation as a perceptual threshold and a space of connection. The artwork introduces an atmospheric visual language inspired by clouds, cirrus and cumulus formations, conceived not as figurative elements but as dynamic structures capable of evoking references ranging from Baroque spirituality to Futurist aeropainting. Chromatic and material variations guide the viewer’s gaze along the path, turning it into an immersive and contemplative experience.

In line with the theme “Connessioni Urbane”, Meithras establishes a dialogue across different temporal and perceptual dimensions: past and future, architectural stability and change, matter and vision. Executed with durable and eco-friendly materials, the mural enhances the public space and transforms an urban barrier into a relational device between inside and outside, between everyday transit and reflection.

2st Prize – Gruppo Progettazione Architettonica – “Scritture di Pace”

Scritture di Pace transforms the wall along the railway line into a monument to the written word, with the term “PACE” repeated in over one hundred languages. The letters, created in relief and alternating with glass panels, follow alphabetical order and create a vertical rhythm perceptible along the pedestrian route. The choice of a white monochrome palette enhances chiaroscuro and backlighting effects, giving the words a sculptural, three-dimensional presence: readable by day and illuminated at night, they become an urban landmark capable of combining aesthetics and meaning. The work reclaims writing as a universal language and a symbol of dialogue, harmonising with the surrounding architecture and urban context.

3st Prize – Antonio Giusti – “Radici di Passaggio”

Radici di Passaggio transforms the wall between the Multipurpose Centre and the San Pietro station into a living urban organism, through modular bas-reliefs depicting intertwined roots. The forms evoke connections between people, places and memories, integrating with the existing vegetation. The artwork invites viewers to cross and experience the space in a new way, encouraging reflection, a sense of belonging and connection: a barrier thus becomes a poetic and identity-defining element, capable of creating a relationship between everyday life and the contemporary urban landscape.

A project bridging art, architecture and community

Connessioni Urbane reaffirms contemporary art as a tool for fostering connections between the built environment, culture and citizenship, helping generate urban and cultural value while promoting a shared vision for the quality of public space.

CONNESSIONI URBANE: Competition entries unveiled and top three winners announced

The exhibition showcases the 41 projects submitted for the Connessioni Urbane competition. The works—exploring the relationship between past and future, nature and artifice, and the individual and the collective—highlight the active involvement of younger generations in urban regeneration processes. Artists from the Academies of Fine Arts of Florence and Rome, the Brera Academy, the Carrara Academy, as well as from the Faculty of Architecture at Sapienza University of Rome, took on the challenge of giving an artistic identity to the long boundary wall of the Edificio Polifunzionale in Via del Crocifisso, located between the building and the Roma San Pietro railway station.

The initiative is part of a broader urban redevelopment process made possible by the design developed by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, and delivered by Techbau S.p.A. The Connessioni Urbane competition provided young artists with a concrete opportunity for experimentation and growth, placing the dialogue between contemporary art, public space and community at its core.

The jury—composed of Cristina Mazzantini, Director of GNAMC, Andrea Marchiori, CEO of Techbau S.p.A., and Architect Mario Cucinella—selected the ten finalist works, exhibited in the first two rooms of the Soppalco Aldrovandi.

With a focus on inclusion and recognition, the exhibition also dedicates space to all other submissions received, giving visibility to the richness and diversity of the artistic interpretations presented.

The Artworks:

1st Prize – Diego Gualandris – “Meithras”

Named after the solar deity, Meithras transforms the wall between the “Crocifisso” Multipurpose Centre and the Roma San Pietro station into a continuous painted surface, reinterpreting an element of separation as a perceptual threshold and a space of connection. The artwork introduces an atmospheric visual language inspired by clouds, cirrus and cumulus formations, conceived not as figurative elements but as dynamic structures capable of evoking references ranging from Baroque spirituality to Futurist aeropainting. Chromatic and material variations guide the viewer’s gaze along the path, turning it into an immersive and contemplative experience.

In line with the theme “Connessioni Urbane”, Meithras establishes a dialogue across different temporal and perceptual dimensions: past and future, architectural stability and change, matter and vision. Executed with durable and eco-friendly materials, the mural enhances the public space and transforms an urban barrier into a relational device between inside and outside, between everyday transit and reflection.

2st Prize – Gruppo Progettazione Architettonica – “Scritture di Pace”

Scritture di Pace transforms the wall along the railway line into a monument to the written word, with the term “PACE” repeated in over one hundred languages. The letters, created in relief and alternating with glass panels, follow alphabetical order and create a vertical rhythm perceptible along the pedestrian route. The choice of a white monochrome palette enhances chiaroscuro and backlighting effects, giving the words a sculptural, three-dimensional presence: readable by day and illuminated at night, they become an urban landmark capable of combining aesthetics and meaning. The work reclaims writing as a universal language and a symbol of dialogue, harmonising with the surrounding architecture and urban context.

3st Prize – Antonio Giusti – “Radici di Passaggio”

Radici di Passaggio transforms the wall between the Multipurpose Centre and the San Pietro station into a living urban organism, through modular bas-reliefs depicting intertwined roots. The forms evoke connections between people, places and memories, integrating with the existing vegetation. The artwork invites viewers to cross and experience the space in a new way, encouraging reflection, a sense of belonging and connection: a barrier thus becomes a poetic and identity-defining element, capable of creating a relationship between everyday life and the contemporary urban landscape.

A project bridging art, architecture and community

Connessioni Urbane reaffirms contemporary art as a tool for fostering connections between the built environment, culture and citizenship, helping generate urban and cultural value while promoting a shared vision for the quality of public space.