Cinema Modernissimo

The reopening of the cinema Modernissimo was an operation of returning to the city of Bologna a place that had disappeared for fifteen years, but remained in the memory of citizens. This restoration closes a circle by bringing back to life two underground worlds, precisely the underpass in via Rizzoli, which has already been turned into a permanent exhibition space, and cinema Modernissimo. Hence, an important cultural dimension has been sealed, symbolised by a stretch of via Emilia, which is now visible to the public as a result of reopening the area. The memory of the city’s multi-millennial history has thus been revived.

Today, cinema Modernissimo is located in a space created in the early 20th century. Indeed, the first project for the construction of an underground theatre dates back to 1912. As part of the great renewal project for Bologna’s city centre, the foundations were laid for palazzo Ronzani. This multifunctional building, a stronghold of Bologna’s modernity, was conceived by the futuristic project of architect and stage designer Gualtiero Pontoni, commissioned by Alessandro Ronzani, a renowned industrialist of the namesake Casalecchio beer. The underground theatre, with dual access from via Rizzoli and piazza re Enzo, was designed to seat an audience of about two thousand persons. However, its particular architectural  and structural traits caused several issues with permits and the site only opened in 1921. In the following decades, the theatre underwent several changes, eventually offering exclusively cinema programming. After an extensive redevelopment project in the 1950s and having changed its name numerous times, the hall became the popular cinema Arcobaleno, which remained in activity until 2007.

The theatre’s redevelopment project commenced in 2014 was signed by the municipality of Bologna, by fondazione cineteca of Bologna, and by Emmegi cinema, the building’s owner. In the following years, the società Modernissimo foundation launched the project. Considered a challenge, it began to take shape in 2020 with the start of works. Looking back in time to the original Modernissimo theatre, the role of artistic curator was assigned to giancarlo Basili, one of the most authoritative set designers in the Italian cinema scene. Gian Luca Farinelli, director of cineteca di Bologna, explained the reasons for this choice: ‘why a set designer and not an architect? Because the Modernissimo theatre had already been given an architectural structure, while we needed an artist to make us dream, and to turn the site into an amazing place where we could step into the atlantis of cinema’. The artistic project of several spaces was curated by Marionanni and the lighting design was developed by Marionanni with Viabizzuno .

The atmosphere you breathe when walking through the underpass that connects the city to the underground city is authentic. Giancarlo Basili has followed a dual track by maintaining the original traces and, then, referring to the few photographs and many drawings of the period project, he has conceived a site of extraordinary beauty to celebrate cinema, while maintaining the flavour of a hundred years ago. The double architectural volume beneath the historic palazzo Ronzani is a time machine. Every historical detail has been preserved and combined with a contemporary interpretation of the space through Viabizzuno lighting, thus creating a unique combination of past and future. The symbol of this convergence, in terms of lighting, is the chandelier that dominates the main hall from four points. The original tapered shape and the historic octagonal base, consisting of a brass rose with a diameter of more than one metre, have been retained. Eight steel beams with as many glass spheres, supporting the imposing 1.2 m hemisphere of light that fills the cavity of the chandelier, from which both direct and indirect lighting is emitted into the hall, provide a modern twist on the reinterpretation of the classic.

Basili implemented a contemporary reinterpretation of the original stylistic elements. By consulting archive photographs and the plans of set designer Pontoni, he was able to identify the lines and materials that characterised the original decoration of the room, including the lighting elements. Shapes and colours were consistently redesigned, with an eye on the viewer, who can now enjoy the richness of the ceiling from below, even from a distance.

The handrails on either side of the great hall also embody historical authenticity, high technology and functional features as a result of Viabizzuno ’s integrated light, which guides the audience without playing the protagonist. The elegant foyer with its art nouveau flavour is embellished by traccia sistema, a bookcase system featuring integrated lighting: the vertical struts of tracciapiù, almost five and a half metres high, together with the horizontal struts of traciameno build the supporting texture of the wooden shelves, on which important film objects such as vintage film cameras and international awards such as the leone d’oro to marcello mastroianni are placed, all enclosed by glass doors also fixed to the traccia by means of a specially made hinge.

Turned into an exhibition space featuring vintage posters illuminated by Viabizzuno light frames realised with c sistema, the corridors take viewers on a journey through the history of cinema. The lighting design has also addressed the other rooms opposite the foyer, precisely café Pathé with traccia sistema, whose integrated custom trentotto spotlights create a cosy ambience by blending into the architectural volumes without neglecting the functional features required by the space, while glasses and bottles are located behind the counter on mensolona with micromen. The niches displaying photographs of the space prior to restoration works conceal a light blade of c2 integrated in sistema 094. The toilet area features an imposing long tiled wall with the words ‘cinema’ illuminated by n35 sospensione, while intè spotlights are integrated into the plasterboard in the corridor. Renovation works have revealed another aspect of the city’s history. Indeed, cinema Modernissimo is located near the decumanus maximus of the roman city of bononia. The unearthed large cobblestones have, therefore, been integrated into the cinema space and enhanced by means of a microtraccia with spotlight trentotto. Cinema Modernissimo is a journey through history, culture, art and technology.