Reg.Nr. HA-2017/IT/17

White Pyramid in Rome

The restoration work of Caio Cestio’s Pyramid, made from 2012 to 2014 by Rome’s Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici, is to present day the only case of pure patronage in Italy. Mr. Yuzo Yagi has financed 2.000.000,00 euros for the whole operation, which lasted 327 ...
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Project details

Title:White Pyramid in Rome
Entr. year: 2017
Result:Award
Country: Italy
Town: Rome
Category type: building conservation
Building type/ Project type: Religious building/memorial
Former use:Tomb; archeological monument open to public
Actual use:Archeological monument open to public
Built: 1st century BC
Architect / Proj.leader: Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali del Turismo, Soprintendenza Speciale per il Colosseo e l’Area Archeologica di Roma
The Jury's citation: “This project has an impressive global significance and is reflective of the best aspects of our cooperative and globalised world: an Egyptian inspired monument in Rome attentively restored with the assistance of a Japanese patron”. “This careful restoration is of the highest quality and has revitalised this important monument in the centre of Rome. The investigative intervention used detailed research, innovative materials, and techniques to successfully achieve their aims”.

Description:
The restoration work of Caio Cestio’s Pyramid, made from 2012 to 2014 by Rome’s Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici, is to present day the only case of pure patronage in Italy. Mr. Yuzo Yagi has financed 2.000.000,00 euros for the whole operation, which lasted 327 days, completing the task five months ahead of schedule. The renovation has had a strong scientific value adopting strongly compatible state of the art systems and experimental technical and scientific protocols. The reactions of three commercial products exposed on the four Pyramid’s walls at different heights are being evaluated and monitored by recurring lab analyses, said study will provide new data for marble’s restoration. The effectiveness of the restoration will be managed through a plan of ordinary maintenance, accomplished by qualified restorers, which will follow the ongoing experience started in 2003 on the internal frescos. Today the new entrance makes the Pyramid accessible.