Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner (gmp), with more than 500 employees at seven locations in Germany, China, and Vietnam, is a world-leading architectural firm, as well as being one of Germany's largest. In 1996 gmp realized its first project in Italy: the exhibition Renaissance of Railway Stations that was part of the 6th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. In 1997 gmp's winning design for the new exhibition halls in Rimini marked the beginning of its list of another 59 projects in the country, comprising diverse structures such as train stations, airports, stadiums, hospitals, or research buildings. Many of these were for sites of historical significance that required the utmost sensitivity in execution; 13 of them have actually been realized to date.
This German language book tells the story of gmp's work in Italy in seven chapters, placing all projects in the historical context of their respective location. In an interview, Volkwin Marg, one of gmp's two founding partners, talks about his experiences, his enthusiasm for Italy's building culture, gmp's great successes, unexpected major obstacles, tough negotiations, and deep disappointments. Numerous color photographs, plans, and historical reference images supplement the texts.