Carlo Scarpa is my favorite all-time architect. From my perspective, he beats out some tough competition: Palladio, Le Corbusier, Louis Kahn, Alvar Aalto, Richard Neutra, Mies Van Der Rohe, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Greene & Greene. That's the historic list. There are also many excellent modern architects I admire greatly, but Scarpa still comes out on top. The reason? The Brion Tomb in San Vito di Altivole, Italy.
When I was preparing for my architectural Tour of Europe trip in 1985, I came across a set of photocopied travel guides that listed the must-see works of architecture (remember, this was pre-internet). On the list was the Brion Tomb, completed in 1977. It was a relatively new building, only 8 years old at the time. But it already had a reputation as something you had to see. I made it a priority to go there.
I was traveling on a Eurail Pass at the time that allowed me to travel easily by train from city to city and I used it to get to Padua. From Padua, I made the trek to the Brion Tomb at San Vito di Altivole. The cemetery is not easy to get to without a car. Here is my journal entry describing my visit to this extraordinary place:
Excerpt from Craig Stoffel's Travel Journal
While I was there, I located a good view of the Brion Sarcophagi and Bridge, sat on the lawn, and began sketching in my journal. The pen and ink on paper sketch took about 1 1/2 hours to complete:
Craig Stoffel's Travel Journal
The drawings Scarpa used to develop his design concepts are fascinating in their own right. Here are few examples:
Brion Tomb, Design Study, by Carlo Scarpa
Brion Tomb, Design Study, by Carlo Scarpa
Finally, I highly recommend the following short film by Franco Di Capua that provides an intimate look inside this amazing work of architecture. The film explores the project through a combination of carefully composed shots of architectural details, and sweeping views of the complex.
