Re-semanticising Dissonant Fascist Architecture
Abstract
Fascist architecture still shapes Italy’s urban fabric and provokes ambivalent responses. The Arengario Palace in Milan, transformed into the Museo del Novecento, exemplifies successful re-semanticisation. This paper analyses the building’s history, museological transformation, and public reception. It asks whether and how Fascist-era spaces can be repurposed without erasing their past, proposing art and culture as tools for addressing difficult heritage in living cities.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation
Italian Fascism and Post-war Society
Architecture
Modernity
and Design
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Amsterdam University Press eBooks
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter