The Future is in History: A Tribute to Federico Bucci
Two years after his passing, the Politecnico di Milano honored Federico Bucci — architectural historian, professor, and for thirteen years Vice Rector of the Mantua Campus - with an exhibition and an international award bearing his name. At the Trifoglio Building on the Leonardo Campus, the exhibition “The Future is in History. Dedicated to Federico Bucci” was inaugurated, offering a journey through the academic and scientific career of one of the leading figures in contemporary architectural culture.
The exhibition gathers writings, images, and testimonies that highlight Bucci’s vision: for him, the history of architecture, especially that of the postwar period, was the key to understanding the present and imagining the future.
For him, it was essential to look to the past, because one cannot design or envision the future without starting from there, from one’s own roots.
Emilio Faroldi, Deputy Rector of the Politecnico di Milano
A passionate teacher and tireless promoter of new ideas, Bucci was also the founder of Mantovarchitettura, an international event that transformed the Mantua Campus into a hub for research, teaching, and design.
At the same time, the first edition of the Federico Bucci International Award was launched, promoted and coordinated by the Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering (DABC). The award aims to recognize the best master’s theses in the historical and design categories, both inspired by the theme “The Future in History.” More than 380 candidates from around the world took part, with a selection of finalist works displayed within the exhibition.
The initiative celebrated the scholar, the teacher, and the man who knew how to merge memory and innovation, leaving the Politecnico and the architectural community a legacy of curiosity, passion, and faith in culture.