Ferdinando Forlati. Restauro come restituzione = Ferdinando Forlati. Restoration as reconstruction

Ferdinando Forlati (Verona, 1882 - Venice, 1975), was a leading figure in the field of architectural restoration. His work was carried out from the Veneto region, to Istria, to the Middle East, dealing with crucial issues that involved the horizon of cultural heritage preservation. From the roots of his design career, this protagonist of modern restoration culture has been able to pass through to the most important events of the 20th century. Many studies have deepened contents and methods of Forlati’s work, at the turn of the 20th and 21st century. However, the precious bequest of his private archive to the Archivio Progetti of the Iuav University of Venice, in May 2012, triggered renewed interest, enabling new studies to be launched. The paper traces the educational and professional profile of the engineer and superintendent of Venice, also analysing the case-study of Palazzo Adoldo on the Grand Canal (1951-59), framing the intervention it in the wide context of the work of this important technologist of monument restoration.