Nolli V2

Good 'ol V&V posts about The Interactive Nolli Map Website, which "Presents the 1748 Nolli map of Rome as a dynamic, interactive, hands-on tool." The influential original illustrates Rome as figure/ground with the buildings darkened and the public spaces (streets, piazza, courtyards, even church interiors) in white. In many ways it's still appealing because it illustrates what many city's sorely miss today: an emphasis on the spaces between buildings, especially shared, public spaces.



The University of Oregon Dept of Architecture's update overlays graphics like the Tiber River, the city gates, and fountains over the map. But most fun is the satellite image that, when toggled on and off, appears to fit with timeless precision over the Nolli image.



Thorough features on the interactive website help explain the natural features, architecture, social factors, and cartography of Nolli and his time.