The project for the new rehearsal hall of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma Capitale is a significant intervention in the urban landscape of the city, combining functional needs, heritage conservation and architectural experimentation. The central idea is to create an urban node of reference, capable of attracting artists, workers and the public, fitting into an expanding area and contributing to its redevelopment. The project envisages the construction of two separate but interconnected buildings, a design choice that aims to guarantee greater flexibility in the realisation and use of spaces, but that could also lead to critical issues in the management of architectural and functional continuity. The two public squares envisaged in the master plan seek to integrate the complex with its surroundings, offering open spaces for socialising, although their actual usability will depend on the project’s ability to dialogue with the city and avoid the risk of underused or isolated areas.

From a technical and construction point of view, the project relies on the use of prefabs to reduce costs and construction time, an efficient strategy but one that could set limits in terms of expressive quality and architectural customisation. The hybrid structure in steel and reinforced concrete guarantees solidity and allows large spans to be covered without structural interruptions, a fundamental aspect for the large rehearsal hall, designed to host stage sets and shows in the staging phase. However, attention to sustainability, although declared as a key element, seems to rely on established solutions such as the double skin façade and solar panels, without introducing any particular innovations in the field of energy efficiency. Acoustics are handled with care, but the effectiveness of the solutions adopted once the complex is operational remains to be assessed. All in all, the project attempts to balance aesthetic, functional and technological requirements, but its real ability to positively impact the urban and cultural fabric will depend on the quality of execution and the ability to respond to the operational challenges that will emerge during construction and operation.