New architectural developments

In 1948 Cagliari became the capital of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. This event generates an inevitable debate about the role that the city should have played in the future.
The debate fluctuated between different, possible choices: giving priority to immediate reconstruction in order to offer a concrete answer to the problem of homelessness, or to attempt a nostalgic restoration of the urban configuration deteriorated by the war.
The reconstruction plan was drawn up in 1945 and approved two years later. Precise programmatic choices foreseen by the plan, such as the new road network in the historic center or the movement of some services, were not implemented. It was preferred to focus on an emergency reconstruction, often dictated by uncertain and aesthetically lacking urban planning choices, but which proved adequate for a quick and inexpensive restoration of the city's urban functionality.
In such a scenario, opportunities for controversy could not be missed. This was the case, for example, of the inauguration of two buildings for shows: the outdoor 'Cinegiardino' and the Teatro 'Massimo' (1944-47). The decision to direct resources to the construction of these buildings was contested because it was believed to be at the expense of other priorities, such as the Covered Promenade, the Roman Amphitheater or the Punic tombs of the Tuvixeddu necropolis.
As far as city roads are concerned, it must be noted that the first interventions (the gutting of Via Santa Margherita and the opening of Via Mameli) took place only in 1957, shortly before the natural expiry of the reconstruction plan.
The construction activity was very intense, at least from a strictly quantitative point of view. Even from this point of view, however, most of the interventions were guided by the haste of reconstruction and by the substantial absence of serious planning.

Update

9/7/2025 - 09:45