A new study of Italy through the lens of its housing.
Since antiquity, Italy has been the origin of key themes of Western architecture and culture, many of which continue to provide an inspiring frame of reference. Critically emulating the tradition and, in parts, the itinerary of the classic Grand Tour followed by European aristocrats,
The Last Grand Tour
takes a nuanced look at Italy today. Using the subject of housing as its hub, it offers new narratives and positions on current issues and developments. In the format of a graphic and textual atlas, this book explores Italy at various scales. Zooming in and out of themes, cities, and regions, it allows for associative and nonlinear comprehension and reflection. The spatial aspect of living, with its huge impact on the limited resources of land, is the starting point for the proposals and strategies the book offers. Its audience reaches beyond the professional architecture community, aiming at anyone with an interest in the much-debated topic of affordable housing and twenty-first-century Italy.