
The Orthopaedic Clinic building at Rome’s Città Universitaria was designed by architect Arnaldo Foschini in 1935. The structure now serves as the Orthopaedics Building at La Sapienza University.
Foschini (1884–1968) was a prominent Roman architect who trained under Gaetano Koch and Guglielmo Calderini at the Istituto di Belle Arti, graduating in 1909. His career combined academic teaching with professional practice at the highest level. He worked alongside Marcello Piacentini and became one of the leading figures of fascist-era architecture in Italy. The Orthopaedic Clinic exemplifies the rationalist institutional architecture of the 1930s, reflecting the period’s emphasis on functional design for public institutions.
About Arnaldo Foschini
Foschini was born in Rome on 26 September 1884 and died there on 24 March 1968. He held the rank of full professor at Rome’s Istituto di Belle Arti from 1920 onwards, shaping architectural practice and pedagogy throughout his long career. His clinical approach to institutional design marked him as a key voice in early twentieth-century Italian architecture.
Details
- Designer: Arnaldo Foschini
- Year: 1935
- Location: Città Universitaria, Rome
- Institution: La Sapienza University
- Current use: Orthopaedics Building
Frequently asked questions
Who designed this building?
Arnaldo Foschini, a Roman architect born in 1884, designed the Orthopaedic Clinic building. Foschini was a professor at Rome’s Istituto di Belle Arti and a prominent figure in Italian architecture during the early twentieth century.
When was it built?
The building was completed in 1935 as part of Rome’s Città Universitaria campus development.
What is it used for today?
The structure now serves as the Orthopaedics Building at La Sapienza University.



