2024-11-13T23:50:38-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150351660/influential-italian-postmodernist-architect-paolo-portoghesi-passes-away-aged-91 Josh Niland 2023-05-31T15:04:00-04:00 >2024-10-25T04:07:38-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/a3/a36199e81ddba7ca2972239e33620977.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>An important driver of postmodernism in Italy has been lost following the death of Italian architect, theorist, and historian Paolo Portoghesi in his native country this week at the age of 91.</p> <p>The author of the 2000 title <em>Nature and Architecture</em> enjoyed a long and influential academic career in Italy while simultaneously working to complete several important religious and cultural commissions such as the Mosque of Rome, Strasbourg Mosque, Casa Baldi, and Theatre of Cagliari as an architect following his graduation from the <a href="https://archinect.com/schools/cover/5060621/sapienza-universit-di-roma" target="_blank">Sapienza University of Rome</a> in 1957.</p> <p>Portoghesi also served as President of the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/24748/venice-biennale" target="_blank">Venice Biennale</a> from 1979 to1992 and was a notable participant in the <em>Documenta 5</em> exhibition and other key artistic exhibitions across Europe during the same time period. His teaching career began the previous decade at his alma mater, where his renowned expertise in Baroque architecture was further enabled via a collaborative relationship with his friend and mentor, Bruno Zevi.&nbsp;<br></p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/70/708c75a3dd861c19f63b4ab0b7722e46.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/70/708c75a3dd861c19f63b4ab0b7722e46.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>The C...</figcaption></figure>