The former Cinema Airone/Stellarium building in Rome has been assigned to a non-profit cultural organization by the city. While the building structure is still intact after years of abandonment, it requires cleaning and repairs before it can be safely used. A proposed work schedule outlines repairs to the domed ceiling, roof, electrical systems, stage area, and other features. The total estimated cost of the suggested repairs is around 40,000 Euros.

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Architectural Report
Former Cinema Airone/Stellarium - Via Lidia 44, Rome
Land registry information: fg. 900, partt. 169-170
Introduction
The site of the former movie theater “Cinema Airone/Stellarium” has been assigned to
The Actors Center-Roma, a non-profit cultural organization, by the City of Rome's
Patrimony and Housing Department, via a Temporary Assignment Memo dated June 1,
2010.
The site has been abandoned since 1998. Immediately preceding that date, it was being
used as a discotheque.
The report outlining the historical and artistic significance of the site, compiled by the
City of Rome's Soprintendenza per i Beni Architettonici e il Paesaggio on December 15,
2009, featured a) the intrinsic value of the building's architecture, an original creation by
architect Adalberto Libera, one of the leaders of Italy’s rationalism movement, and b) the
presence of a large mural painted by Giuseppe Capogrossi spanning the ceiling of the
main entrance, hidden from view by successive decorations.
The current administration has made no explicit guarantee they will take on the
costs and responsibilities for cleaning, extraordinary maintenance and meeting legal
safety requirements for the building.
The cultural organization The Actors Center-Roma requires the space for mixed
artistic purposes and currently possesses a limited ability to cover costs for initial
restructuring and regular maintenance. Therefore, before any discussion takes place
on future usage, we will limit our current observations to a brief description of the
basic features needed to make the building safe and usable.
The following is a brief work schedule, prioritized according to safety, usage and
economic requirements. Features are listed alongside suggested work and
corresponding estimates that may be used to create a future detailed cost
breakdown.

2. General state of the building
Despite having been abandoned for an extended period of time, the former Cinema
Airone/Stellarium appears integral. Formal usage came to an abrupt end, as the
building is littered with chairs, seats, magazines, pamphlets, decorations, all sorts of
perishable items, including food and beverages, with items still lying in storage areas
and lockers. The building requires both regular and extraordinary maintenance. It was
last used as a discotheque and therefore features: a) several large metallic structures
that served to create VIP-areas and provide support for lighting fixtures - some
spanning the entire roof of the theater (without contact with the actual roof); b) an
extension of the original stage, created in steel and brick, with an additional structure in
glass and steel added on at a later date; c) the Capogrossi mural, currently covered by
a layer of blue paint, spanning the entire ceiling of the entrance stairwell; c) theater
lights subsequently substituted by plastic globes used to reflect nightclub-type lighting.
The building’s electrical system is generally in good condition, with current-generation
circuit breakers, switchboards and control boxes that meet legal standards. Some of the
wiring has been altered and requires modification to match modern standards.
The plumbing system has been altered, with some substitution of the original pipes and
valves. In a closet located on the lower level, condensation has rusted a mainpipe but,
generally speaking, the plumbing systems works well and presents no significant leaks.
Below, please find a detailed description of several of the building’s features, followed by
suggested actions:
1. An outdoor neon sign right outside the front entrance features the name Cinema
Stellarium (and refers to a subsequent renaming of the building).
We suggest keeping this structure as a feature, even if the site changes its name.
2. The front entrance stairwell featuring the mural by Capogrossi. Today the mural is
covered by a layer of blue acrylic paint.
For a complete and correct refurbishment of the theater, the hidden mural should be
restored, ideally with the help of art restoration education programs or the creation of
a tender or contest to restore the mural in line with the original philosophy of the
theater. The surface area that requires restoration is 88 square meters.
3. The ceiling of the Cinema Airone consists entirely of a large metallic structure. The
inside of the dome is covered in welded steel cement-coated netting. The outside of
the dome is covered with rectangular bricks and sealing panels coated with a
waterproof bituminous sealant. The interior of the ceiling, originally covered by a
textured material, currently features acrylic paint and a smattering of rhombus-
shaped soundproofing panels. The type of acrylic paint adopted did not permit an
appropriate exchange of air, which has caused the paint to peel off in several areas.
Almost all of the sooundproofing panels have begun to detach from the oval roof.
The original lighting was mounted using holes found in the dome itself and have
been replaced by plastic mirrored globes designed to reflect the (discotheque)
strobelights. These have been tied to the ceiling’s holes with steel wire.
The entire interior surface of the domed ceiling requires a thorough scraping,
followed by removal of all the paint and soundproofing panels, and an appropriate
number of coats of new paint or, ideally, a wood-panel covering.
4. The outside of the dome has been covered with waterproofing panels and a layer of
bituminous sealant and tar. The brush strokes become thinner as one moves to the
western sloped ceiling, thinning out completely at the end of the surface. In this area,
the sealing panels have risen and curled up. Here and in other areas, vegetation has
begun to take root. This has created a series of conspicuous leaks with water
dripping down to the theater floor below.

3. Work must begin as soon as possible to limit any future damage that may affect the
statics of the building. A general cleaning, including replacing the roof panels that
have curled up, and a tarring of the entire surface along with the addition of a
waterproof epoxy resin covering, is required.
ESTIMATED COST approx. 25,000.00 Euro
5. The orchestra/spectator area features an iron-tube structure originally used to
support the discotheque’s lights. Despite some minor rust, it is structurally sound.
The raised platforms at the sides are in an advanced state of erosion due to water
damage from the water leaking in through the roof. The aesthetics of the domed roof
are currently compromised by the large metal mounting racks.
Due to the cumbersome size and advanced state of erosion of the metal structures
fixing them would prove useless and costly, besides the fact that they don’t
correspond to the original state of the unique dome. Disassembly requires
cutting/sectioning of the tubing and transport to a local dump.
ESTIMATED COST approx. 1,000.00 Euro
6. The stage has been widened by adding steel pipes supporting a transparent
plexiglass flooring welded onto a brick structure. Currently the stage lacks any
lighting. Switchboards, circuit breakers, boxes and outlets meet legal requirements.
Electrical features must be secured and some rewiring is required. Lighting must be
reactivated by purchasing appropriate custom lighting fixtures. The size and shape of
the stage is currently not fit for the intended use, though a later restructuring (not
urgent) can easily be implemented.
ESTIMATED COST approx. 6,000.00 Euro
7. The foyer bar is modern and may be used. Just above it is a series of metal-pipe
structures designed to support areas once used as VIP-sections. These are in good
shape. Service areas, bathrooms, changerooms, closets, technical booths, the
kitchen, offices and ticket booth are not in bad shape. To be used, they require
some ordinary maintenance. The plumbing system is in working order, some piping
has already been replaced, a limited amount of piping features advanced rust due to
condensation. A general painting and stucco is suggested, along with fixing the
deteriorated plumbing. 820 square meters require whitewashing.
ESTIMATED COST OF PAINTING 7,000.00 Euro
Surface areas (in square meters)
Stage 100
Orchestra/seating area (max. horiz. 9.4m) 668
Domed roof 1000
Atrium/entrance 90
Stairwell 88
Offices and ticket booth 21
Warehouse Area 1 23
Foyer 42
Bar 51
Coat Check Area 30
Washroom 1 10
Washroom 2 10
Warehouse Area 2 7
Kitchen approx 60
Technical, warehouses and hallways approx 100
Changerooms 16

4. Sincerely,
laboratory architecture nomade
Architect Alexander Valentino