26 Oct

What makes a good architectural translation?

Reuse is one type of architectural translation, and it is appears to be the most used. It usually entails taking an older building that has since been forgotten or abandoned but holds some history and transforming it so it can be used for something new. The neighborhood of Testaccio grew up on the southern edge of Rome as a meat raising and packing district. The working class neighborhood grew up around slaughterhouses and cattle pastures. The cattle have since disappeared and the slaughter houses abandoned leaving a large empty building with metal tracks still in tact and small cattle enclosures arranged in between. Now the building is being reused for a museum and another for a school of architecture. This translation was done by using what was left of the slaughter house and turning it into exhibit spaces. In the summer, the cattle enclosures house outdoor exhibits. The museum shows off the history of the area through its building as well as what is on display inside.