Architecture and Remembrance: the discrimination of architects in Nazi-fascist regimes

2026-07-22

Architecture and remembrance is a cultural project elaborated by a partnership of 4 Italian Orders of Architects (Milan, Bologna, Rome, Ferrara) and 3 cultural institutions (CDEC – Contemporary Jewish Documentation Centre, Fondazione MAXXI in Rome and Comenius University of Bratislava) to explore what happened to Jewish Architects in Italy following Racial laws in 1938 / 40 and in Central Europe, in order to: a) inform and raise awareness within both the professional community and the general public about the discrimination suffered by Jewish architects during Nazi-fascist regimes; b) make remembrance of discrimination and antisemitism that led to the exclusion of many architects from their professional fields, as a living tool to prevent future intolerance and foster dialogue around their stories to deconstruct the discourse leading to intolerance. The starting point of the project will be a research activity conducted in archives in Italy and Czechoslovakia. The outcomes of the research will be made available through the following outputs: a video-documentary, an exhibition about the architects impacted by the discriminatory acts, that can be set up in several locations, a graphic novel to tell the story of some of these architects, that will address in particular youth target and a publication. Several events will be organized to disseminate the above outputs, reaching different targets (professional communities, students, general public, other institutions), expecting to involve at least 925 direct participants. A communication campaign will accompany the development of the project to inform the general public, media and institutions of the events and activities realized under the project, expecting to reach at least 20.000 people.

Italy

2025-12-15