In a captivating and thought-provoking event held at the prestigious Palazzo Ducale of Urbino, Piero Tomassoni delivered a talk on the topic of “The Ideal City” on the invitation of the Colnaghi Foundation and of the Italian Association of Family Businesses (AIDAF), whose associate companies include major household names from all industries, and together produce nearly 15% of Italy’s GDP.

The historic walls of the Palazzo Ducale, itself one of the prime example of ideal urban space in the Renaissance, were the perfect setting for unraveling the complexities surrounding the concept of an ideal city. The talk commenced with a brief historical overview, delving into the concept of ideal cities as envisioned by various architects and philosophers throughout history. From the visionary designs of Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti during the Renaissance, to the forward-thinking urban planning concepts of the 20th century, Tomassoni weaved together a narrative that demonstrated the evolution of our perception of the ideal urban environment, from Palmanova, Pienza, and Urbino, to Modernism and 1960s experimentalism, all the way to NEOM in Saudi Arabia.

Drawing inspiration from his own experiences and extensive research, Tomassoni demonstrated how a close connection of art and architecture with public and private patronage is key to the development of future ideal cities. Following the talk, a lively Q&A session ensued as well as discussions around new artistic and architectural endeavours involving AIDAF member companies and their respective cities.