Registration Number: 0405131
NATHAN CASSUTO: the bravery of optimism...
Evoking why...
The story of Nathan Cassuto, who risked his life rescuing unknown
people and who was able to laugh and to support his mates among
the suffering of the lager, really struck us.
We taught that his teaching of bravery and human friendliness could be
the right basis theme for our project for Slant Competition 2013.
Nowadays, in the period of crisis and recession experienced by Italy
where we all risk to become more selfish to protect our interests, we
think it would be very useful to remember the example of who, in a
more tragic moment, had been able to dedicate his life to the other
people, putting himself aside.
With our project we do not want to tell in a banal way the Nathan
Fig. 1- Nathan Cassuto
Cassuto’s story, which is well known by the Florence citizens, but we
(www.rabbini.it)
would like to evoke his optimistic and kind personality in order to
transmit a message of peace and brotherhood.
Evoking where...
The importance of the role of Nathan Cassuto has
been recognised by the Italian Government with a
silver medal to the “civil merit” and the
municipality of Florence has dedicated to his
memory a little square along the Florence bypass
avenues.
This square, far from touristic circuit and
frequented by the residents of the area, is the
place chosen for our project, where his positivity
and kindness can live again in a message which
wants to be stronger than pain and death.
Fig. 2- Nathan Cassuto Square (Googlemaps)
The square, which is about 700 m², is situated between two wide avenues which cross together
obtaining a trapezoid shape. Along the minor base we can find a news-stand and a florist. The
lateral perimeter is marked by a hedge with several entrances which we consider the boundary
of our project. Beyond this, there is a pavement and a tree-row of big Platanus sp.
Even if the square has a little size it is used by the residents as a place where to take a rest or to
read a book, or by the pedestrian as a shelter against summer heat.
Inspirations...
The inspiration of the project arose from the symbolism used into the concentration camps as an
identification system of the prisoners. Some cloth symbols with different meanings according
to the colour and the shape were sewed in the uniforms.
In particular, a triangle showed the “category” to which the prisoner belonged to:
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a red triangle identified the political prisoners;
a violet triangle identified Jehovah’s Witnesses;
a pink triangle identified the homosexual prisoners;
a brown triangle identified the gipsy prisoners;
a black triangle identified the “asocial” people;
a blue triangle identified the immigrants;
two overlapping triangles which created a yellow six-pointed star identified Jewish
prisoners.
Proposing again this symbolism in the shapes and in the colours of the elements which compose
the project, we tried to remember all the oppressed categories indiscriminately supported by
Nathan Cassuto.
The triangle is not only a base geometric shape of the David’s Star, emblem of Jewish religion,
but it is also a symbol which has from time immemorial marked the relation of the man with the
spiritual dimension for different religions. The triangle, in our project, represents also an
exhortation to reflect.
The use of the colours permits us to transmit the Cassuto’s contagious positivity and
friendliness which we really would like to bequeath to the citizens.
Our aim is to create a welcoming, happy, contained and protected place in order to find peace
and quiet and to be able to reflect, where every single element is thought as a cross reference
to the event of human rescue in which Cassuto was the main character.
Fig. 3- Conceptual plan
Fig. 3- Conceptual plan
Project description...
Conceptual plan
To define the project we based on a conceptual model. The area of the project has the shape of
a regular trapezoid divided in horizontal stripes formed by a repeated series of equilateral
triangles (l=3m). Some of them have been extruded to form the architectural and furniture
elements.
Spatial configuration
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Boundaries: in the external perimeter there has been placed a wooden pergola which
obstruct the transit. Northwestern the boundary is marked by the building hosting the
news-stand and florist which we redesigned. This closing can permit to have a visual and
partially sound-proof insulation of the area from the Florence traffic congested avenues.
Access: the arbour provides two entrances characterized by two arches (h 2.50m) into
the opposite sides of the trapezoid. The arches enriched by vegetation are like an
exhortation to enter.
Two functions: we provided a lateral path which links the two entrances to permit a
rapid pedestrian/cycling crossing and a more welcoming and protected area for the rest.
Focal points: inside the area dedicated to the rest we created two focal elements, a big
fountain and a tree-flowerbed which could attract the people inside and make more
pleasant the rest. The fountain is the most important element of the composition and on
it is inscribed a memorial sentence written by a famous Italian writer and poet, Primo
Levi, an Auschwitz survivor: «Se comprendere è impossibile, conoscere è necessario» (If
it is impossible to understand, you need to know).
Fig. 4- Spatial configuration
Architectural elements
The color of architectural elements reminds the symbolism used into the concentration camps as
an identification system of the prisoners' category.
Vegetation
The vegetation used refers to the Jewish tradition and has a symbolic meaning according to the
colours of flowers and fruits which remind us the oppressed categories.
Conclusion...
Even if it is different from the traditional interpretation of the memory places - which generally
transmit drama, anguish and despair of thousands dead - to create a comfortable and happy
place seems to be the best way to evoke the personality of Nathan Cassuto.
This concept, which apparently seems nonsense, is maybe what he really would desire…