Cisternoni of Livorno
The Cisternoni of Livorno are a series of three large buildings in the
Designed by the architect Pasquale Poccianti, the cisternoni are architecturally important, as they represent the advent of an aesthetically considered approach to the design of utilitarian public work. This movement, whose followers are sometimes known as "
Pasquale Poccianti
Pasquale Poccianti, the reservoirs' architect, was "Engineer to the Commune of Livorno" and "Architect of the Royal Works". Poccianti had trained at Florence's
In their use of monumental neoclassical architecture for industrial buildings, the Livorno cisterns can be compared with works of radical French neoclassicists
La Gran Conserva
La Gran Conserva, or "Il Cisternone" (43°33′09″N 10°19′10″E / 43.5525°N 10.3195°E), situated on what were the outskirts of 19th-century Livorno, is the largest and best known of the city's's covered cisterns. It was constructed between 1829 and 1842 to the design of Pasquale Poccianti. While the
It is thought that the architect,
The building appears almost
At Livorno, the great niche surmounts a massive portico supported by eight columns in the
The interior of the building is divided into two halves. The first and most visible is the principal facade and its flanking wings, which house the apartments for caretakers and staff; behind lies the second half and main body of the building which contains the T-shaped reservoir itself. This is subdivided by Tuscan columns supporting the roof above, giving it the air of a cavernous aquatic cathedral.
The cisterns were not only places for storing the city's water but were also "purgatori" — places for purifying the water. Water entered the reservoir from the Acquedotto Leopoldino through layers of gravel and carbon, a method of filtration which was later replaced by a more modern chlorine treatment system. The later removal of the gravel filtering system meant that the cistern could be used to its maximum capacity to store 10,000 cubic metres of water. This reservoir and purification plant is still in use today.
Cisternino di Pian di Rota
The smaller Cisternino di Pian di Rota (43°34′07″N 10°21′52″E / 43.5686°N 10.3645°E), in the Pian di Rota area of the city, was begun in 1845, although it had been planned as early as 1827. While, like the architect's other works, it is strictly speaking in the neoclassical style, the Cisternino di Pian di Rota also has the air of a
The interior houses the large rectangular reservoir, originally divided into two, as with the other cisternoni. One half houses a filtration system of beds of gravel and carbon. The roof of the reservoir is supported by 28 Tuscan columns.
Cisternino di Città
Cisternino di Città (43°33′08″N 10°18′47″E / 43.5523°N 10.3130°E) is an austere neoclassical design which was approved in 1837 and completed in 1848. The design was greatly altered during its construction: originally the close proximity of neighbouring buildings meant that only one facade would be visible, but alteration and demolitions in the city during 1840 caused the building to face two different new thoroughfares. The result of the redesign was a great loggia supported by ionic columns raised above a heavy base pierced only by sparse and narrow windows. The sides of the building are embellished by apses with lunette windows.
This severe almost startling form of neoclassicism had become popular in the first decade of the 19th century. It was pioneered by such architects as Peter Speeth and Friederich Gilly and is in contrast to the more elegant neoclassicism of such architects as Robert Adam and John Nash. This form of street architecture was most popular in Germany, where it was used to great effect in such squares as Munich's Theresienwiese.
This building was never used for its intended purpose and has been used in several different roles. Most recently it has since 1945 served as Livorno's cultural centre.
Cisternoni
Cisternoni are not peculiar to Livorno; they have been constructed from Roman times in many other locations in Italy. Most notably in Albano Laziale in the 3rd century AD, and Spasiano in Sorrento. Both of these examples, like the comparatively new Gran Conserva, are today still in use. Like their earlier counterparts the Cisternoni of Livorno are today places of public interest.
References
- ^ Vidler, Claude-Nicolas Ledoux: Architect of the Revolution Between Vision and Utopia.
- ^ Villa del Poggio Imperiale retrieved 17 August 2007
- ISBN 88-8138-057-9
- ^ F. Gurrieri and L. Zangheri (eds.) (1977), Pasquale Poccianti architetto, 1774 – 1858. Contributi al convegno per la celebrazione del secondo centenario della nascita, Firenze, p.39.
- ^ This theory is explored further in D. Matteoni (1992), Pasquale Poccianti e l'acquedotto di Livorno, Roma - Bari.
- ^ Naumberg Concerts Archived 2007-08-17 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ While the Stourhead "Pantheon" has a rotunda, their facades are almost identical. Stourhead Landscape Garden. The National Trust 2000. P 14.
Sources
- F. Borsi, G. Morolli, L. Zangheri, Firenze e Livorno e l’opera di Pasquale Poccianti, Roma 1974.
- Comune di Livorno, Le opere pubbliche. Grandi opere e Piani di Recupero Urbano, Livorno 2003.
- F. Furbetta, L'approvvigionamento idrico della città di Livorno, Pisa 1960.
- D. Matteoni, Pasquale Poccianti e l'acquedotto di Livorno, Roma - Bari 1992.
- Pasquale Poccianti architetto, 1774 - 1858. Contributi al convegno per la celebrazione del secondo centenario della nascita, a cura di F. Gurrieri e L. Zangheri, Firenze 1977.
- G. Piombanti, Guida storica ed artistica della città e dei dintorni di Livorno, Livorno 1903.