This site uses technical (necessary) and analytics cookies.
By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies.

THE EMBASSY OF ITALY IN WASHINGTON CELEBRATES PIERO SARTOGO AND ITALIAN ARCHITECTURE IN THE UNITED STATES

L’Arch. Michele Busiri Vici, la Prof.ssa Denise Costanzo, l’Arch. Paola Antonelli, l’Arch. Nathalie Grenon, S.E. l’Ambasciatrice Mariangela Zappia, il Sig. Anthony Andrews, la Dott.ssa Francesca Baldanzi e il Cons. Amb. Joel Melchiori

On the 25th anniversary of the opening of its current location, the Embassy of Italy in Washington yesterday honored the creators of the “Palazzo sul Potomac” (“Palace on the Potomac”) during an evening dedicated to Piero Sartogo and the significance of Italian architecture in the United States.

The Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Mariangela Zappia, highlighted how the Embassy building, blending tradition and innovation, “perfectly represents the identity and values of Italy—deeply rooted in its history yet always looking toward the future. Our atrium, always filled with light thanks to its glass ceiling, evokes the Italian piazza: the building designed by Piero Sartogo was conceived not only as a workplace but also as a space for meeting and exchanging ideas, as well as a permanent showcase of Italian design.”

Following remarks from Anthony Andrews, Director of International Affairs of the City of Washington, who emphasized how the Embassy of Italy enhances Massachusetts Avenue (also known as Embassy Row), the evening continued with a panel discussion moderated by Michele Busiri Vici, founder of the New York-based firm Space4Architecture. The panel featured Paola Antonelli, designer and curator of the Department of Architecture and Design at MoMA; Denise Costanzo, professor of architecture at Penn State University; and Nathalie Grenon, architect and colleague of Piero Sartogo.

The event highlighted significant aspects of Sartogo’s work, who passed away in 2023, including his projects in Rome, Milan, New York, and Washington. It also retraced the key steps from the design to the realization of the Embassy of Italy, which has remained virtually unchanged since its opening. These milestones are detailed in the beautiful volume Il Palazzo sul Potomac. L’Ambasciata d’Italia a Washington, edited by Ambassador Gaetano Cortese, which chronicles the history, structure, and furnishings of the building and includes a rich collection of photographs.

To conclude the evening, a plaque was unveiled at the entrance of the Embassy in honor of Sartogo Architetti Associati and the Embassy’s design team, comprising Piero Sartogo, Nathalie Grenon, and Susanna Nobili.