The project series documents Poli's work on the Interplanetary Architecture project, which was also made into a film by Superstudio directed by Alessandro Poli (the film is not included in the fonds). The project reflects Poli's deep fascination with the moon landing in 1969. Poli uses this major media event as a catalyst for thinking about a new approach to architecture and tools for design, including the idea that film and the movie camera should become part of the toolset. The project also seems to be in some way a response to Epoch magazine's challenge for a "Primo concorso di architettura nello spazio" (the first architectural competition in space), and includes much imagery and textual references to a new road or architectural links between the earth and other planets, including an earth moon highway. In his storyboard, Poli also makes reference to his earlier Piper project, and some imagery features wheels and an amusement park.
The Interplanetary Architecture project was exhibited by Superstudio in Rome in 1972 and featured in "Casabella" magazine in April 1972 (no. 364). The project was also featured in the 2010 CCA exhibition "Other Space Odysseys". In the accompanying CCA publication, Poli describes this project as "a voyage off earthbound routes in quest of architecture unfettered by the urban nightmare, by induced needs or by planning as the only tool for regulating and solving the world's problems" (Poli quoted in Borasi and Zardini, 2010, 110). Poli's work on this project is deeply tied to the Zeno project, which was also featured in this exhibition and is included in this fonds (see AP148.S1.1972.PR01). For the Zeno project, Poli envisioned a dialogue between astronaut Buzz Aldrin and an Italian peasant, Zeno of Riparbella. Poli felt that these two shared a similarity in that both their homes were isolated capsules, one that provided a lens from which to see the rest of the world and understand their place in it.
The material in the series includes numerous photomontages and collages of astronauts in space, as well as drawings of plantery shapes and structures. There are also texts, some of which include calculations of distances and diameters of planets, as well as notebooks and sketchbooks, many of which Poli included in a folder he entitled "Storyboard." The series also includes an unsent letter from Poli to Adolfo Natalini which describes how, after the moon landing, everything - the planet, the moon, the stars - is architecture, and that this will necessitate the need for new design tools, such as the movie camera. Some works are signed Alessandro Poli-Superstudio.
Source cited: Giovanna Borasi and Mirko Zardini, eds., Other Space Odysseys, Montreal and Baden: Canadian Centre for Architecture/Lars Müller Publishers, 2010.
Title: Notes and sketches on a film story, Interplanetary Architecture (Folder 1 of 7)
Dates of creation: ca. 1970-1971
Form: drawings
Catalogued items within this file 20
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
The material in the next 7 files (AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.1 through AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.7) was contained together in a handmade folder titled "AI Storyboard". The material in this folder has been separated for preservation purposes, and the original folder has been retained.
This file contains notes and sketches on the film idea, including the story, visuals, music and cinematography. Also includes clippings, both of which refer to imagery and ideas of an earth-moon highway or contest for a highway, as well as the first architectural competition in space ("Primo concorso di architettura nello spazio"). Also includes a small viewer of an Escher image.
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
Approximately 17 sheets of notes with collages and sketches, 1 watercolour, 1 small notebook and other materials.
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Related units of description:
Material in this folder was separated for conservation purposes. All elements found together in this folder include AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.1 thru AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.7.
Title: Notebook with notes and sketches, Interplanetary Architecture (Folder 2 of 7)
Dates of creation: ca. 1970-1971
Form: drawings, textual records
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
1 notebook
Dimensions:
book (open in cradle approx): 21 × 26 × 8 cm (8 1/4 × 10 1/4 × 3 1/8 in.)
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Material in this folder was separated for conservation purposes. All elements found together in this folder include AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.1 thru AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.7.
Title: Sketchbook with sketches and notes, Interplanetary Architecture (Folder 3 of 7)
Dates of creation: ca. 1970-1971
Form: drawings
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
The sketchbook contains sketches in colour pencil and notes. It was identified as "Inserto 1" by Poli. A photograph (portrait) was also inserted in the sketchbook.
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
1 sketchbook
1 photograph
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Related units of description:
Material in this folder was separated for conservation purposes. All elements found together in this folder include AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.1 thru AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.7.
Title: Sketchbook with sketches and notes, Interplanetary Architecture (Folder 4 of 7)
Dates of creation: 1971
Form: drawings
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
The sketchbook contains sketches in colour pencil and notes. It was identified as "Inserto 2" by Poli.
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
1 sketchbook
Physical Description:
Some of the pages are loose, please handle with care.
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Related units of description:
Material in this folder was separated for conservation purposes. All elements found together in this folder include AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.1 thru AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.7.
Title: Notebook with sketches, Interplanetary Architecture (Folder 5 of 7)
Dates of creation: ca. 1970-1971
Form: drawings
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
The notebook contains some sketches. It was identified as "Inserto 3" by Poli. The notebook cover is missing.
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
1 notebook
Physical Description:
Some of the pages have been glued together intentionally and should not be separated.
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Related units of description:
Material in this folder was separated for conservation purposes. All elements found together in this folder include AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.1 thru AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.7.
Title: Sketches, Interplanetary Architecture (Folder 6 of 7)
Dates of creation: ca. 1970-1971
Form: drawings
Catalogued items within this file 6
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
Appear to be storyboard drawings, with each square advancing a narrative about the planet earth.
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
6 sketches
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Related units of description:
Material in this folder was separated for conservation purposes. All elements found together in this folder include AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.1 thru AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.7.
Title: "Storyboard" original folder, Interplanetary Architecture (Folder 7 of 7)
Dates of creation: ca. 1970-1971
Catalogued items within this file 0
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
Original folder made by Alessandro Poli which housed materials found in AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001-006.
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
1 artefact
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Related units of description:
Material in this folder was separated for conservation purposes. All elements found together in this folder include AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.1 thru AP148.S1.1970.PR02.001.7.
Title: Letter to Adolfo Natalini, Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1970
Form: textual records
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
Letter, never sent, from Alessandro Poli to Adolfo Natalini, that begins: "Caro Adolfo, abbimo visto in TV la conquista dello spazio, il più grande evento mediatico del '900…"
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
0.01 l.m. of textual records
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Explanation or argument for Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1971
Form: textual records
Catalogued items within this file 2
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
Typewritten text with handwritten calculations.
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
0.01 l.m. of textual records
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Photomontage used for the filming of Architettura interplanetaria [Interplanetary Architecture]
Dates of creation: circa 1970-1971
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
This is one of a series of photomontages used for the filming of Architettura interplanetaria. The photomontage includes an astronaut superimposed with an image of a lake and boating vacationers on one side, and on the reverse, various annotations and sketches, some with reference to Poli’s thesis work. It was made on a large page taken from a magazine.
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Dimensions:
sheet (déplié): 37 × 53 cm
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Issue of "Epoca" magazine, special number "LUNA" (n.981), Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: July 13, 1969
Form: journals and magazines
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
1 serial
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Workers' manifesto poster in response to the moon landing, Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1969
Form: graphic materials
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Description:
Fold out poster from publication "Quindici": "con un manifesto: La luna dei padrone".
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
1 poster
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Autostrada con sinusoide di energia [Highway with sine wave of energy], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1970-1971
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Alessandro Poli (architect)
Superstudio (architectural firm)
Quantity / Object type:
1 file(s)
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Trasporto dei pianeti per ingrandimento della terra [Planetary transportation for a larger earth], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1970-1971
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Avvicinamento dei pianeti e fasi di assestamento [Approaching the planets], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1970-1971
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Construzione di un edificio gonfiabile [Constructing an inflatable building], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1970-1971
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Nuove architetture con avvicinamento di masse planetarie [New architectures with approaching planetery masses], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1970-1971
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Paesaggio lunare - Luna park [Moonscape amusement park], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1973
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Nuovi paesaggi rurali [New rural landscapes], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1970-1971
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Nuove architetture lunari [New lunar architectures], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: circa 1970-1971
Form: drawings
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 collage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Title: Autostrada di collegamento fra asteroidi [Highway connecting asteroids to each other], Interplanetary Architecture
Dates of creation: 1970-1971
Form: photographs
Catalogued items within this file 1
People:
Alessandro Poli (archive creator)
Quantity / Object type:
1 File
Extent and Medium:
1 photomontage
Credit line:
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli
Alessandro Poli fonds
Collection Centre Canadien d'Architecture/
Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montréal;
Don de Alessandro Poli/
Gift of Alessandro Poli