oliver astrologo goes inside santiago calatrava's unfinished sports city complex in rome

 http://oliverastrologo.com/

digital director oliver astrologo has an eye and appetite for abandoned architectural spaces. designboom recently brought you astrologo’s series of photos of ‘casa sperimentale’, a hidden residential relic built in the late 1960s just outside of rome. for his latest collection of images, the italian photographer returns to his hometown of italy’s legendary capital to uncover another structural artifact from the not-so-distant past — an innovative sports city complex designed by internationally renowned spanish architect santiago calatrava.

all images courtesy of oliver astrologo

santiago calatrava’s unfinished sports city complex remains unfinished due to unexpected and unpayable costs. if completed, the immense project could be an integral part of rome’s bid for the 2024 summer olympics, hosting the volleyball, gymnastics, trampoline, and basketball finals — but its fate lies in limbo. oliver astrologo‘s images of this empty architectural landmark highlight the sinuous curves, anatomical influences and sculptural sensibility that calatrava has become best known for. despite its eerie vacancy, the building complex manages an awe-inspiring and monumental quality that the architect has continually created for public use.