A contemporary photograph shows the Italian architect’s floating of sculptures in divided grand rooms, part of his refit of the museum in Verona
Castelvecchio Museum
Verona, 1957-75
Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978) is considered one of the most important figures of 20th century Italian architecture and his work has been acclaimed internationally. Renowned for his love of crafts and understanding of materials, he was heavily influenced by the heritage of his city, Venice, as well as that of Japan. Among Scarpa’s most important works are his interventions in museums housed in historical buildings, culminating in his refurbishment of the Castelvecchio Museum in Verona (1957-1975).
The castle – which had been the ancient home of the della Scalas, the ruling family of Verona between the mid-13th century and the late 14th century – was converted into a museum in 1924. Scarpa was asked to refit the exhibition spaces according to contemporary design ideas. His interventions included the radical transformation of seven big rooms of the Napoleonic Wing into the harmonised sequence of spaces featured in this photograph: the false frescoes from the 1920s were removed, the walls rendered in neutral shades and the sculptures displayed on simple concrete slabs, which appear to be floating above the floor, or on steel and wooden plinths.