Rome City Guide With Karl Fender, Fender Katsalidis

Rome City Guide
With Karl Fender, Fender Katsalidis

In everything Beulah undertakes, we are defined by civic-minded responsibility, rigorous research, global vision, innovative thinking and a passion for design and culture. We frequently look to a range of industry and thought leaders to share their thinking, insights and perspectives, often drawn from lived experiences.

With a wealth of inspiration and rich storytelling at our fingertips, we share this with you by way of our Beulah City Guides Series, an exploration of cities around the world, through the eyes of compelling industry and thought leaders.

Founded on the philosophy of innovation through collaboration, Fender Katsalidis has evolved from a Melbourne-centric architectural practice to a highly awarded, multi-disciplinary international design firm whose work now influences built environment thinking across the globe.

Beulah collaborating with Karl Fender of Fender Katsalidis

Specialists in multi-residential, cultural, commercial, aged care and hotel typologies, Fender Katsalidis seeks and delivers holistic solutions in architecture, masterplanning, urban design and interiors—solutions notable not only for their design quality, but also their civic contribution and economic mindfulness.

Perhaps best known for their definitive tall building and public realm design, they are equally proud of their lesser profile achievements: the documentation and quality assurance processes, for example, regarded as the gold standard throughout the construction industry.

Fender Katsalidis seeks and delivers holistic solutions in architecture, masterplanning, urban design and interiors

It is this bold built environment thinking we share with you in the following City Guide, as Fender Katsalidis Founding Partner, Karl Fender, shares his experiences of the awe-inspiring Rome, further exploring his perspectives and sharing his insights.

The Piazza Di Spagna

Trastevere

Karl, thanks so much for joining our City Guide Series! You’ve chosen to discuss bella Roma with us – what do you love about this city?

I lived in Rome for five years in the late 70’s. I was so young and certainly did not really know what to expect on arrival.

Visiting this stunning city was meant to be a relatively short holiday at the end of a long sojourn around Europe, but its instantaneous impact and attraction on me and my young family was magnetic.

I quickly got a job as an architect, found an apartment near Piazza Di Spagna, put my kids in school and became Italian to the extent that is “possibile per gli stranieri!”

The experience of living and working within the history, mysteries and sensory delights of Rome was more than beguiling.

Trevi Fountain

Where do you stay in Rome?

I always stay near Piazza Di Spagna, either at the Hotel Art in Via Margutta or the nearby and very understated Hotel Centrale in Via Laurina. I recommend Hotel Art as a cool, boutique experience but the room we stay in at Hotel Centrale allows me to look fondly over the laneway to my old apartment!

The experience of living and working within the history, mysteries and sensory delights of Rome was more than beguiling.

The Vatican Museums

The Sistine Chapel

Can you share with us your favourite from the below categories in Rome?

Cultural Institutions

The Villa Borghese Gallery
The Ara Pacis Museum by Richard Meier on Lungotevere
The Vatican Museums and of course the Sistine Chapel

Retail Destinations

The Piazza Di Spagna precinct for high-end goods
Via del Corso for everyday items and passegato
The Piazza Navona precinct for Italian design and great gelato refreshments

Places to eat

Enotecca Buccone on Via Di Ripetta, a lighter tasting lunch in a great wine-shelved room
Ristorante Due Ladroni on Piazza Nicosia, wonderful traditional Italian dishes
Bloom at via Teatro Pace 30, very cool haunt after dinner

Nightlife Destinations

La Parma at Via Giussepie Mirri 35, jazz music and disco evenings
Bar della Pace on Via della Pace 4-7, cocktails!
Bloom at Via Teatro Pace 30, very cool haunt after dinner

Wellness Destinations

Altacare Laboritoires in Piazza Di Spagna
Delia Beauty Spa at Piazza della Rotunda 7 near the Pantheon
Rome is so close to Orvieto that you should go there, sit in a small piazza and watch the world go by over a vino or two. How good is that for your wellbeing? But also, you’re only a train ride away from Vals across the border in Switzerland, so treat yourself to my favourite wellness experience in the world, the mineral springs of Peter Zumthor’s Therme Vals… physically rejuvenating and spiritually rebalancing…worth leaving Rome for a few days!!

Things to do

Take a drink from Bernini’s Fontana della Barcaccia in Piazza Di Spagna
Discover Trastevere, especially Basilica Santa Maria and its superb mosaics
Get lost in the Jewish quarter and eat kosher Italian

Architecture

Jubilee Church in Tor Tre Teste by Richard Meier
San Carlo alla Quattro Fontane, the Baroque masterpiece by Borromini near Quirinale
Il Campidoglio by Michelangelo, his staircase, his brilliant piazza plan resolution, and the Equestrian Bronze focus

Do you have any tips, tricks or advice for anyone looking to visit Rome?

The old adage, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is the perfect piece of advice. It’s not the city within which to be uptight or in a rush. Best to go with the Roman flow… breakfast at a reasonable hour with a cafe correcto if you’re up to it, explore in the morning when things open after 10am, enjoy a late, substantial, long lunch, sleep it off in the afternoon when everything is anyhow closed, join the passagato around 5pm as everything opens again, and go back to your room to shower, dress and titivate to look fabulous in your newly acquired Armani in readiness for a long, late, beautiful Italian dinner.

It’s not the city within which to be uptight or in a rush. Best to go with the Roman flow…

About Karl Fender

Karl Fender, Fender Katsalidis

After beginning his career with Robin Boyd – a Melbourne modernist architect of profound historical significance – Karl spent the majority of his formative years in Europe, before completing a Master of Architecture at Harvard University, then working extensively throughout Southeast Asia.

Currently Chairman for the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats Awards Jury, he has served as both national and state president of the Australian Institute of Architects, and a Venice Biennale Committee member. Combined with his indefatigable work ethic, Karl’s richly diverse background ensures he remains an active contributor across all design areas of the practice, as well as a continual presence throughout the life of each project for Fender Katsalidis’ clients.