Istalia

[XanderOne]

Laying of the foundation stone for the Great Hall of the Eagle Throne: new ceremonial heart of the Istalian Crown

The project will create an imposing ceremonial hall in the Parco Michele I Imperatore, destined to become the stage of future Imperial Enthronements

3D redenrings of the Great Hall's project

23 April 5690

---

ROMULA - With a solemn ceremony attended by representatives of the Crown and the Government, Her Majesty the Empress Eleonora officially began construction of the Great Hall of the Eagle Throne (Grande Sala del Trono delle Aquile in Istalian), the future imperial reception hall destined to become the most majestic setting for official ceremonies of the Istalian Monarchy, first of all the Imperial Enthronements. The 23 April is not a casual date, it's one year that Emperor Tommaso V left us, and the Crown in this day wanted to celebrate his memory with the laying of the foundation stone of a building that was already imagined by the late Emperor and his entourage.

The winning design of the competition announced by the Crown was by the architectural duo made up of Benedetto Remigi and Carlo Donati, who presented an architectural vision combining Istalian eclecticism, Renascentian and Selucian Triumphalist styles. The two-story building, entirely clad in white marble, will have a Selucian cross plan surmounted by a large central dome.

Inside, the undisputed masterpiece will be the Great Hall of the Eagle Throne proper, a space of marble, gold and frescoes, designed to evoke the solemn atmosphere and majesty of ancient selucian basilicas and chatedrals, but inspiration came also from the somptous central hall of the great ancient baths. The Hall will be a large rectangular space covered by monumental vaults supported by giant columns along the walls, with large exedras opening between them, connected eachother like forming side naves. It will be there that the Eagle's Throne will be placed, imperial seat to be used for the most solemn celebrations, and for enthronements of course, and which realization by part of Istalian master artists and artisans already has started. There will be also a Lesser Hall in the back of the Palace, while the adjoining rooms, no less sumptuous, will house art collections and permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The new hall will be located at the northern end of the Parco Michele I Imperatore, the vast green complex that houses the Imperial Mausoleum, one of the most sacred places in dynastic tradition. A large ceremonial square will be created in front of the structure, from which a monumental boulevard will branch off, connecting the square to the river and, via a new bridge, to the Piazza delle Confraternite and Via 22 Settembre. This new urban axis will connect the new building with the traditional route of imperial parades to Parliament, and will provide a solemn and unified route for future Enthronements to the new "stage" of the Istalian monarchy.

As often happens with major works, the project has been mired in controversy. Some observers have called the structure "excessively pompous" or "already 'old' before to be built". However, both the architects and the judging panel defended this view, emphasizing the desire to give a sense of solemn and celebratory antiquity.Furthermore, the Hall architecturally recalls other well-known monuments and buildings of Romula, such as the Palace of Supreme Tribunal, the National Altar of the Fatherland or the Civic Palace, the seat of the municipality of Romula.

Other criticisms have focused on the new road axis, which will require the demolition of several medieval blocks beyond the Sala (the Capital's river). In response, the Superintendency of Cultural Heritage has assured that all significant historical and artistic testimonies will be preserved and relocated, and that the project was developed in close collaboration with the conservation authorities in order to have the least possible impact.

Within 25 months, this is the given timeframe, the Imperial Crown of Istalia will be able to count on a new and imposing stage for its celebrations, a veritable secular cathedral, a place designed to embody the solemnity of court ceremonial and the most majestic and solemn forms assumed by the Monarchy, destined to become one of the new architectural symbols of the capital and a future icon of Istalian Imperial power and tradition.