Cassiopea building at Via Archimede 191

Monaco-Luccichenti Studio - Built in 1953 in the Parioli district of Rome

In the residential fabric of Parioli in Rome the building Cassiopeia in via Archimede represents a significant episode of the research conducted by the studio of Vincenzo Monaco and Amedeo Luccichenti on the typology of Roman buildings in the post-war period. Part of the "Stars and Constellations" series, which also includes Ram, Orione e Vega, the building was built in 1953, one year after the couple of buildings on Via del Circo Massimo , Federici building on Via S. Crescenziano.

In Cassiopeia the typological reflection is intertwined with a structural and formal research This is particularly evident, manifested both in the layout and the construction of the elevations. The expressiveness of the structure and the quality of living combine to define a coherent and recognizable architectural language, typical of the Roman studio's projects.

A complex and recognizable system

The building follows a convex shape, consistent with the geometry of the block and the direction of the street, and is configured as a double mirrored factory body, organized around a central element that houses the stairwell and elevators. This solution allows for a clear and efficient layout, enhanced by generously sized common spaces, particularly the entrance and landings.

CAD design of a plan of the Cassiopea building faithful to the original project — CAD processing of the Cassiopea building's standard plan as per the original project

The typical floor plan of the Cassiopea building clearly highlights the layout: from a central hub, a large hallway extends, following the convex shape of the building and orderly distributing the apartments on each floor. The residential units are arranged along the perimeter, favoring external views and ensuring good exposure to natural light, with a clear separation between the living area and the sleeping area. The services and ancillary rooms are located near the central core, optimizing the internal systems and routes.

The distribution system, despite its apparent regularity, introduces a certain variety in the sizes and configurations of the accommodations, confirming the design attention towards a quality of living high and diversified.

The main facade of the Cassiopeia building

The main elevations of the Cassiopea building on Via Archimede extend along the short sides of the building and are identical. The entrance is located at the base of the façade on Via Archimede, while the other faces the adjacent building on Via Barnaba Tortolini. They feature a rigorous and perfectly symmetrical composition, in which the load-bearing structure also serves as a organizing element, with the structural frame left clearly visible.

Main facade of the Cassiopea building on Via Archimede in Parioli

The façade is punctuated by a vertical sequence of reinforced concrete portals that frame the horizontal bands of loggias, set slightly back and featuring ribbon windows. On the sides, a series of regularly spaced, projecting balconies introduce depth and movement, lightening the building's mass.

The thin, transparent metal parapets interact with the horizontal bands of ochre-colored plaster (originally white), while the dark wooden elements emphasize the openings, creating a sharp material contrast, in a play of alternations with the shaped beams.

The recessed ground floor concludes the composition with a visually light solution, separating the living volume from the ground. Even the stilt They contribute to the interplay of alternations on the facade and to the effort to give it greater plasticity, thanks to an accentuated tapering at the ground level.

Ennobling the facade

Other projects by the Monaco-Luccichenti studio, such as the buildings on Via del Circo Massimo, show that the monotony of the facades was broken not only by geometry, but also by the use of a variety of materials—wood, stone, and even glass. The image below illustrates the diversity of geometric, material, and sculptural solutions adopted with this common goal.

Comparison between the main facades of the Cassiopeia building with those of the SACEC and the Palatino Domus — Comparison of the main facades of three buildings by Monaco-Luccichenti. From left: Cassiopea Building, SACEC Building, and Palatina Domus.

In the Cassiopeia on Via Archimede, as in the SACEC and Palatina Domus buildings on Via del Circo Massimo, the façade is constructed with a clear horizontal scansion, where floors, balconies and ribbon windows define a continuous and legible rhythm. In all three cases, a strong pay attention to the relationship between full and empty spaces, with aligned openings and lightweight parapets that maintain the unified perception of the facade. The treatment of materials follows a similar logic: light or warm plastered surfaces, wooden or metal elements, and string courses work together to articulate the façade without fragmenting it.

The 2025 renovation

In 2025, the facades of the Cassiopea building on Via Archimede underwent extensive renovation. The original color, a creamy white documented in both color photographs taken in the 80s and 90s and more recent documentation, was replaced with a warm yellow ochre. This shade diverges from the more typical trends of the years surrounding the Cassiopea's construction, which favored more neutral colors.

Photo gallery of the Cassiopea building

The Cassiopea building, as a whole, is an emblematic example of the balance between design rigor and architectural expressiveness. The following photo gallery offers a deeper understanding of these aspects through a firsthand examination of the building, highlighting the details, materials, and compositional solutions that define the quality of this project.

Photographs taken in April 2026