Photography
Film Photos of San Cataldo Cemetery, 2024. Visiting Aldo Rossi’s “City of the Dead” in Modena, Italy, was a deeply personal and inspiring experience. This cemetery had captivated me since my first architectural history class, where Rossi’s timeless use of form, symmetry, and simple geometric shapes left a lasting impression. I had dreamed of seeing it in person, even hanging its plan drawings in my home for inspiration. Making a detour from Florence to Modena, I woke at 5 a.m. to catch a train. Upon arrival, I discovered the cemetery wasn’t fully completed, an entire wing was missing, and one wall stood wide open as if construction had halted. This incompleteness gave it a unique charm, blending the qualities of a ruin and a monument. Grass crept around the edges, and nature softened Rossi’s stark designs in ways that were absent in the drawings. I spent hours exploring the space, sketching and photographing Rossi’s motifs and materials, and reflecting on how it might feel to be buried there. Local families came to visit loved ones, showing the respect and connection the community has with the space. By early afternoon, I was back on a train to Milan, fulfilled by the experience of seeing one of my favorite architectural works in person. Captured on 35mm film, these photos reflect the profound beauty and quiet serenity of San Cataldo Cemetery.