Walkway in Trajan's markets - Nemesi studio

Project - 1999
End of construction - 2004

This walkway connects Via Alessandrina to Salita del Grillo and is also an observation route over the archaeological area of the Trajan forum and markets.
Its interest doesn't reside as much in this double function, but more in the way this small scale intervention (a current issue in PPB2 with the XS Studio going on) seems able to move away from a trivial response to the given program and have such a strong poetical presence, establishing an interesting dialogue with the context despite its intimidating magnitude and historical importance.
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plan from the Europaconcorsi portfolio (http://www.europaconcorsi.com/db/pub/architecture.php?id_scheda=7845&idimg=62340)

Adress
The archaeological site Mercati e Foro di Traiano is accessile from Piazza Madonna di Loreto. The walkway is accessible from Via Alessandrina or Salita del Grillo.

Opening hours (These are relative to the archaeological site, as the walkway is permanently open)
Tuesday - Sunday 9.00am - 7.00pm during the summer / 9.00am - 6.00pm during winter. Closed on Mondays.

How to get there
Buses - 40, 60, 64, 70, 117, 170
Metro - red line - Colosseo station
The site isn't far from the Colosseo, so the best way to get there is use the metro and walk west along Via dei Fori Imperiali and Via Alessandrina.

Web references

Nemesi studio website (http://www.nemesistudio.it/) (still under construction)
Nemesi studio portfolio in Europaconcorsi (http://www.europaconcorsi.com/db/arch/portfolio.php?id=10540) (in italian).

GE Placemark

Plan showing the imperial forums area juxtaposed to the city's current fabric. The walkway is marked in red.

Perspective section
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from the Europaconcorsi portfolio (http://www.europaconcorsi.com/db/pub/architecture.php?id_scheda=7845&idimg=62340)

General view of the markets from Via Alessandrina. The walkway is at the right in the background.

View of the walkway from Via Alessandrina

Entering the walkway

Moving on

Close up to the right

End of the first section of the walkway, pointing towards the archaeological site

Close up

Looking back

Second section of the walkway

This section touches the existing wall but a metallic grid allows light to get to the wall below the walkway

Angle detail

The last section

Looking back at the angle - note the thin floor surface

This last section of the walkway seen from below

Close up of the angle

The first section from below - note the way it is detached from the wall

Close up of the connection to the sidewalk

And finally, the whole walkway from below

vOid. Great pics and told like a pro. I feel that I really understand the piece after looking at and reading your posts. Thanks.

Yes, well documented, thank you. This is an interesting insertion. It has me thinking of Scarpa's Castel Vechio museum in Verona.

Yes, well documented, thank you. This is an interesting insertion. It has me thinking of Scarpa's Castel Vechio museum in Verona.

heh, the Castelvecchio photos are still sitting on my desktop waiting to be posted! it's been sitting there for over a month!

very nicely executed piece of architecture! although disappointing to see that the balustrade detail got changed to something more compliable to current public usage codes.

WOW!!! Very nice and interesting congratulation!!!!!