The Symbol and the Reason. Numbers, Shape and Measure in the Architecture of Parma’s Cemetery

Abstract

The introduction of the Decimal Measurement System in Enlichtened Europe is meant as an af fermation of reason and science to overlap the confusion of antropometrical systems with the imposition of a unique reference from a cosmic measurement. It get interesting to indagate the meaning and the role of the measurement in the Age of Reason and how this change conditioned the architectural design. The Cimitero de La Villetta in Parma is an interesting case study because of its particular relationship among design and easurement system.The project develops a special model that melts together the rationality of the Metric Decimal System with strong symbolic references in shape, number and measure.

Keywords

• cemetery
• shape and measure
• metrology
• gate
• symbol.