Constructing under the regime in the early 1930s: navigating the intersection of party rhetoric, architectural traditionalism, and technological advancement. The Colonia Bolognese located in Rimini

This paper aims to illuminate three key aspects that emerged from the analysis of historical documents located within the extensive Tabarroni archive, which was generously donated by the family to the University of Bologna. First, it identifies a significant public building in Italy, constructed in the early 1930s under the Fascist regime, which is not a product of the renowned architectural rationalism, but rather stems from a well-established historicist tradition. Second, it notes that, irrespective of the architectural outcomes, construction technology in this building was carried out with a degree of prudence, focusing on minimizing material costs and promoting the involvement of a large local workforce that was closely connected to the party’s trade unions. Finally, the paper observes that within the context of a public project construction site, a coexistence occurs between innovative products and components that have spread throughout the country and small, artisan-style businesses that employ traditional techniques.