ASCANIO CELESTINI – CONDOMINIO DI SANTI

an interview to Ascanio Celestino. text by Boris Prosperini

There are places in the world where men are confined and the barriers that surround them appear invincible.

There are places in the world where memory is erased in order to make room for a perpetual and apathetic reality.

These places are the mental health centers and the psychiatric hospitals that in the old days were commonly called madhouses.

The psychiatric hospital of Helsingor, designed by PLOT (BIG+JDS) approaches these grey and discouraging places in an unconventional way. In addition its shape, which is inspired by a snowflake, what truly strikes the eye when observing this structure, is that its surface is entirely made of glass, allowing each space within to have a full view of its surroundings.

The internal design does not follow any stereotypes either. In fact, common spaces and patios that are decorated with lots of plants while also bringing natural light to the interiors break up the layout of the rooms. I wonder whether this project can act as a safety buoy due to its progressive nature. Is it possible to create a fictional freedom in these kinds of places?

We started approaching this issue, inspired by a quote of Ascanio Celestini’s, which also gave us the title to this piece. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Celestini at the Cineforum of Forte Prenestino, during the screening of his movie, “La Pecora Nera.” (The Black Sheep)

BP: Hello Ascanio, thanks a lot for accepting our invitation. Why did you choose the name “Residence of Saints?“

AC: The idea came from an interview with a nurse who worked at San Salvi Hospital in Florence. He told me about a patient who believed he was living in a residential building. He used to say that “they call it a madhouse because otherwise everybody would come live here, but in reality it is called San Salvi because we will all be saved!” In time, the patient realized that it actually was a psychiatric hospital, and he did not take this revelation too well.

The idea of holiness is tied to an imaginary sacred concept that frequently appears in my texts, but it is also present in the poetry written and recited by Alberto Paolini at the end of my movie.

BP: Given your experience with the film “The Black Sheep,” how would you picture an architectural design suitable for these types of places?

AC: The only proper way to design a psychiatric hospital is to eliminate their existence. I do not believe in any kind of institution where hundreds of people are archived, only because they are believed to be part of a certain category, such as lunatics, convicts, the military, nuns, priests, friars, etc.

BP: Your answer is eloquent, there are not fair barriers…thanks Ascanio.