Rozzol Melara
Project by Carlo Celli, Luciano Celli, and Dario Tognon (1969-82)
Rozzol Melara stands on the eastern edge of Trieste, on a ridge exposed to the north winds and in ideal geographic position. The building lies on the slope of the hill at the top of a valley overlooking the city and the sea. The selection of this location since the design phase – which was carried out from the late 60’s to the early 70’s – reflected an intention of detachment and otherness from the city. This condition was partially modified by the following construction of further social housing, along with the northern and western borders of the complex, as well as of scattered small houses on the slope of the Rozzol valley.
It was built in the 80’s by the Autonomous Council Housing Institute (the so-called IACP). In the city of Trieste, this Institute has a long history. It was founded on the 14th July 1902 as a Municipal Institute for Affordable Housing (Icam) and in 1924 it became Iacp. Today, with a new name and a regional status, the Territorial Agency for Housing of Trieste (Ater) is one of the main public bodies in charge of operating low-cost housing in Italy. It was taken as an example in the drafting of the Italian legislation on council housing approved in 1903 and as a model for the foundation of the first institutes established in this Country. Throughout the 20th century, the Icam-Iacp-Ater built about one-fourth of the homes of Trieste and became the most important operator in the field of housing, contributing substantially to the construction of the city and to the definition of its urban and architectural image. Nowadays the Ater manages the 11% of houses on rent in the whole province.
Source: architectuul
