L'Associazione Artistica tra i Cultori di Architettura e la sua storia. Istituzione, attività, Protagonisti. La custodia del patrimonio costruito nell'attività delle Commissioni

The work of the Committees regarding the care of built heritage. Maria Vitiello The Study Commissions within the Society represented a form of democratization about the care of the artistic heritage of Rome. The aim was for the members to feel personally involved, following each one flair, in spreading historical knowledge of the city's great cultural, artistic, and architectural heritage. It is worth mentioning as the foundation of the Society occurred during a particular historical moment, namely the transformation of Rome into the capital city of the new kingdom of Italy; this event imparted to the pre-existing urban system a strong dynamic impulse in transforming the inner area and residential expansion lines. So, the Commissions were called to monitor these transformations -worrying Society- especially about the conservation of the cultural heritage, threatened by the new structures put forward by urban planning. The proposed urban planning schemes suggested large areas be divided into lots for residential buildings and heavy demolition in the historical centre. These works were partially specified by the town-planning schemes published in 1873 and 1883, then increased in the following years. Since 1891, many Commissions were appointed, some permanent -such as the one for the study of ancient districts' artistic heritage-some temporary, especially dedicated to restoration issues - such as the study and restoration of the Roman basilicas-. Among the temporary Commissions, the ones appointed for the definition of the architect as a professional figure -and consequently, of the schools of architecture-for, the promotion of exhibitions, publications, and dissemination of study and research carried on by members are to be mentioned. Between 1920 and 1932, various interests regarding the multiple functional issues requested by the twentieth-century city of the beginning of century emerged. So, the versatility of interests showed by the Society was advancing to the detriment of the collegial dimension and the shared studies conducted by the Commissions, which seems to be lost.