Letters, sketches and drawings for the story of a negotiation: the architectural compromise in the Francesco Berarducci’s San Valentino church

The architectural process, from the concept to the actual building itself, is a long sequence of compromises, reconsiderations and unexpected events that require mediation strategies and the balancing of the attitudes of the architects. The relationship between the client and the designer represents a significant part of the architectural process as it has a considerable influence on the end result. This study investigates episodes of formal negotiation between the architect Francesco Berarducci (Rome, 1924-92) and the client of the San Valentino church in the Olympic Village in Rome (promoted in 1960). It examines archival documents such as letters, sketches and drawings of the cross correspondence between Berarducci and the priest. The aim is to investigate the involvement of the religious client in the decision-making process, resulting in the final consistency of the church, and to individuate the mediation strategies at the base of the professional skill of Berarducci.