Livio Di Bernardo

The idea to design a new staircase that connect Baths of Caracalla with Piccolo Aventino is born together with other interventions on the Caracalla’s complex.

The project area is located at the right side of the baths, between library and enclosure.

 

The aim of the project is to repropose the old vertical connection and trying to give in it as much light as possible because ground is in critical conditions and so people can watch the old ruins of the Baths.

 

The lower part of the stairs is shaped as a terraced steps, like a cavea, for sitting people during nights event and shows thus taking place on the stage in front of it. The rest of the stairs is designed as an old ruin. Its irregular form depends on the different slope of the ground and some specific points of view on the ruins.

From the top of the staircase we will have a panoramic view over the garden and the monumental backside of the Baths.

 

For night events, even when the Baths are closed to visitors, there will be a new entry on Piccolo Aventino, on top of the stairs.

 

The structure is based on four double shaped beams (3x20 cm) that run all along the stairs, from bottom to top, on which are setting up the steps. Avoiding weigh on the ground the structure lay on beams contrasting against lateral

containment walls. These contrasting beams touch the ground just once a beam, through a steel base, for a strategic loads distribution.