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In this episode, we unravel the complex legacy of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, better known as the Square Colosseum. Originally designed as a fascist showpiece for the 1942 World’s Fair, it now serves as the headquarters of luxury fashion house Fendi. How does a structure born from authoritarian ideals become a beacon of high fashion? We explore the building’s symbolism in architecture, cinema, and contemporary culture, questioning whether its restoration represents preservation, appropriation, or historical amnesia.
In this episode, we unravel the complex legacy of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, better known as the Square Colosseum. Originally designed as a fascist showpiece for the 1942 World’s Fair, it now serves as the headquarters of luxury fashion house Fendi. How does a structure born from authoritarian ideals become a beacon of high fashion? We explore the building’s symbolism in architecture, cinema, and contemporary culture, questioning whether its restoration represents preservation, appropriation, or historical amnesia.