Figure follows type. Notes above contemporary project in compact urban fabric

Working inside a compact urban fabric is a challenge for contemporary architects. It means to define the identity of urban spaces through the differentiation of vertical surfaces, emphasizing the individual character of the façade of each single building. Otherwise, working in low density areas means to define the identity of urban spaces through the differentiation of the shape of the horizontal surfaces, emphasizing the expressiveness of the planimetric figure. If we only think about Rome, we can notice that the figures of the most famous districts realized after World War II, they all look like very different, as if every architect would design a logo to distinguish his authorial work from another. Settlements such as Tuscolano (Muratori, Libera, De Renzi), Casilino (Quaroni) or Decima (Libera, Moretti) realize different urban patterns, so first image that comes to mind is the floor plan. As Purini writes, the view from above comes to be a real fifth façade and become so prominent to overshadow the visible parts of vertical planes. Conversely, working at the architectural scale designing façade plan, it is the specific theme of compact urban fabric. This means to experience with the vertical surface, which can be regarded as a plane-surface, or as an area with a thickness. Therefore, the paper will try to demonstrate how contemporary architecture in compact cities (historic/consolidated cities) is forced to establish a direct relationship between type and figure, jumping totally the moment of the definition of the form.