Vintage map of Rome

With my background in Architecture and Urban Design, few maps are as inspiring as the Nolli Map of Rome created in 1748. This map is amazing because it shows the floorplans of all major religious buildings in Rome such as Cathedrals and Basilicas as well as the shape of the square or piazza they sit on. This type of map is called a figure/ground map. Maps like these are important because they are what define the spaces of the public realm and a properly shaped space can greatly promote social interaction in a community. This idea is much more easily understood when traveling through Europe. The layout of the cities were created to promote community and social interaction in a variety of ways. However with the discovery of the automobile, the human scale that cities were built on became extinct and were replaced by the scale of the automobile. Cities used to be created so that a walk to the grocery store or market was a pleasant experience. However, the car took over and the smaller grocery store now became huge and the parking lot to serve the one store became even bigger. Compound this by every need being met via the automobile and it’s no wonder we now have parking lots where smaller historic downtowns once thrived.

Well all in the name of progress I guess…what a shame.

Thankfully though, in the last decade, a push towards less dependence on the automobile has emerged. Public transportation is now looked on as a desirable alternative and train travel has had a rebirth. Last year I traveled by train to the heart of San Francisco every day and had I been forced to drive the same road through traffic everyday I would have gone crazy. With gas prices nearing $4.25 in CA too, people are thinking twice about how often they drive. As prices rise, try thinking of ways to reduce your daily travel. Carpool, ride your bike, or walk a little more if you can. The choice is yours.

And although I digressed from the map of Rome, if you would like to purchase a copy for yourself click on the link below.

Map of Rome