Is it a wedge of cheese or perhaps a slice of golden polenta? Actually it is Casa Scaccabarozzi. Turinese affectionately call it “Fetta di Polenta”. That translates to “slice of polenta”. This unique building stands before us. It is a testament to architectural ingenuity and a slice of Turin’s quirky history.
Casa Scaccabarozzi owes its existence to Alessandro Antonelli. He was the architect behind the iconic Mole Antonelliana. In the 1840s Antonelli was tasked with developing the Vanchiglia district. It was once known as the “Moschino quarter”. Antonelli joined Societá Costruttori di Vanchiglia. He designed residential buildings including his own home.
Antonelli acquired a small plot of land at the corner of Corso San Maurizio and Via Giulia di Barolo. It was an awkward trapezoidal shape. Negotiations to buy adjacent land failed. Undeterred Antonelli decided to build on the small space. Perhaps it was a challenge or even a bet. He designed a building with one apartment per floor.
Construction occurred in phases. The first four floors were completed around 1840. Two more floors were added later. Then in 1881 Antonelli added the final floor. This demonstrated his technical skill.
Antonelli gifted the building to his wife Francesca Scaccabarozzi. Thus the building’s official name became Casa Scaccabarozzi. Locals quickly nicknamed it “fetta di polenta” because of its shape and yellow color.
Casa Scaccabarozzi defied conventional building rules. It became a symbol of the neighborhood. The ground floor hosted the Caffè del Progresso. It was a meeting place for carbonari and revolutionaries.
To prove its stability Antonelli lived there with his wife for a while. This quelled doubts about its structural integrity. Casa Scaccabarozzi survived the explosion of the Borgo Dora powder magazine in 1852. It also withstood the earthquake of 1887. Even the bombings of World War II spared it.
Casa Scaccabarozzi’s dimensions are remarkable. It measures about 16 meters on Via Giulia di Barolo. It is 4.35 meters on Corso San Maurizio. On the opposite side it is just 54 centimeters wide. The building has nine floors of varying heights. They are connected by a narrow spiral staircase.
Antonelli carefully designed the details. He included large windows and balconies. These project outward to maximize interior space. Originally a pulley system was installed on the top floor. This helped move furniture due to the narrow staircase.
The facades feature neoclassical decorations. There are geometric reliefs. A cornice marks the original roofline. This shows the building’s phased construction.
Until 1979 each floor was a separate unit. Architect Renzo Mongiardino renovated the interior. He created a single unified living space. Mongiardino himself described it as living in a tower of railway carriages.
Casa Scaccabarozzi remains a protected building. It underwent further restoration in the 2000s. For a time it housed the Franco Noero gallery. It has since returned to being a private residence.
Even today Casa Scaccabarozzi continues to fascinate. It stands as a testament to Antonelli’s skill and Turin’s architectural heritage. Its unique form and resilient history make it a beloved landmark. It reminds us that sometimes the greatest creations come from the tightest spaces. Casa Scaccabarozzi is a true architectural gem.