Aggiunta: a Towering Presence

The Aggiunta Neighborhood was inspired by a trip to Barcelona in 2017: it was born, in fact, from observing the Eixample neighborhood for its structure, its repetitiveness, and its history. The word “Eixample” itself literally means “expansion”; because it sounded better, I chose for Cismarina’s new Neighborhood to be called Aggiunta (“Addition”).

The principle behind its construction was the same as that of Barcelona’s Eixample, after all: the urbanization of a large area of land previously unsuitable for construction was approved, and it was divided into equal sections and square blocks, intersected by streets of identical size. Unlike Barcelona’s Eixample, however, the buildings in Aggiunta had to be tall, imposing, and entirely modern. It was, after all, the new Neighborhood leading directly to the majestic Cathedral of Cismarina, so everything surrounding it had to be equally majestic and impressive in beauty and scale.

For this reason, it was decided that Aggiunta would become the Neighborhood of skyscrapers. The systematic construction of towering buildings for every possible purpose was unprecedented and has still never been equaled. Aggiunta became a stage for architectural experimentation, and even today the view of it, both from afar and up close, remains one of the finest postcards the City could offer.

Institute of the Cismarine Language (Istituto di Lingua Cismarina)

Royal Era

It was one of the first structures built upon the then-new grid of Aggiunta.

The Institute of the Cismarine Language was established by the will of Parliament to create an official constructed language for the City, Cismarine, which was meant to replace Italian and English in official communications while existing alongside Italian in spoken language.

The writing of the Dictionary and the Cismarine Grammar was begun, but the sheer scale of the work proved immense and impossible to complete except over the course of many years, and the project was initially set aside; it was later completed on Day 9999 under renewed initiative from Governor xxx.

The Institute is currently operational and funded by the City Government. The Governor is de iure also the President of the Institute.

Palace of the Parties (Palazzo dei Partiti)

Record lost

The Palace of the Parties was built quickly. A new building was needed, and space was abundant in Aggiunta: it was therefore decided to give official headquarters to the political Parties operating within the territory.

The building has three floors: one occupied by the Party of Development, and one by the Federalist Party. The third floor was successively occupied by whichever Party was most representative of the historical moment in question, but it is now an open space dedicated to democratic discussions and conferences for parties not represented in Parliament.

Institute for the Studies of Urban Development (Istituto di Studi per lo Sviluppo Urbano)

Record lost

Within Aggiunta there was an area impossible to urbanize: it was flattened through an “unnatural elevation” (an unnatural elevation is defined as a situation in which gaps in the terrain are not filled with earth, but instead, for reasons of speed and practicality, a one-level-high structure is created at the desired height; this is the same technique used for the foundations beneath the Cathedrals of Cismarina and Vestia). Over this entire elevated area were constructed both the Institute for the Studies of Urban Development and the Statue to Human Ingenuity.

The Institute was built in stone and glass and was designed at a height that would not obstruct the view of the Cathedral from Largo Frank X.

Despite the beauty of the structure, its central urban location, and its ambitious projects, it was never truly used, as the Governors preferred to keep urban planning entirely to themselves.

Lugano Palace, or MetroCismarina Palace (Palazzo di Lugano, o Palazzo MetroCismarina)

Ademo Ademi, 4th, 3394

An imposing building among the first constructed in Aggiunta, it serves as the headquarters of the MetroCismarina Authority, responsible for all rail transportation within the Republic.

Geberit Tower, or Palace of the Fir Trees (Torre Geberit, o Palazzo degli Abeti)

Todd Tergi, 10th, 3653-3665

It was constructed using wood obtained from the deforestation of the Aggiunta Neighborhood during its first urbanization. For a long time it was the tallest building in the Neighborhood, and it is built entirely of fir wood. It currently hosts the headquarters of the Aggiunta Neighborhood and includes an installed hydraulic elevator.

The Civic Temple, or Civic Temple of the Frank X Millennium (Tempio Laico del Millenario di Frank X)

Tomaso Di Tommaso Di Filippo Dello Sviluppo, 18th, 4099

It was constructed as a civic counterpart to the Cathedral of Cismarina, in much the same way that San Petronio in Bologna was financed and built by the city authorities and population in response to St. Peter’s Basilica, also in Bologna.

Unlike that case, however, the Civic Temple was erected and consecrated to an unofficial cult: the honoring of the Governor in his deeds and functions.

Built entirely in white concrete, it possesses one of the tallest and most imposing arches in the Republic.

Built as part of the celebration for the 1000th day since the death of King Frank X.

Mornintoni Palace (Palazzo Mornintoni)

Start Oleg Mornintoni, 29th, 4745, end 30th, 4761

Mornintoni Palace was built by Governor Oleg Mornintoni, from which he later fell to his death. It became the tallest building in the City, and inside it is one of the bubble elevators constructed in the Republic.

Exceptionally bright, the south side bears an enormous illuminated sign displaying the name of the Aggiunta Neighborhood; on the east side, a wall studded with lanterns was created, visible from hundreds of cubes away.

The palace is filled with natural light thanks to enormous glass windows, while the peak of the structure is made of glass and stone in a contemporary style.

The Statue to Human Ingenuity, or Aggiunta Statue (Statua all'Ingegno Umano, o Statua dell'Aggiunta)

Lucio Vinnisoci, 34th, 4970-4975

After the introduction of copper into the world, enormous reserves accumulated without any real purpose other than the construction of blocks. It was therefore decided to erect a statue in the style of the Statue of Liberty, imitating the original material and reinterpreting the pose. Once completed, the statue was adorned with a beautiful pedestal and garden; the work was dedicated to Human Ingenuity, which made possible the creation of everything present within the Republic and beyond.

Palace of National Commerce (Palazzo del Commercio Nazionale)

Filippo Turchi, 45th, 5538-5545

In one of the remaining “sections” still lacking monumental constructions, it was decided to raise a building inspired by One World Trade Center, the tower that replaced the Twin Towers in New York. In that style, a magnificent building with varying inclinations was erected, becoming one of the tallest in the City of Cismarina. The building hosts the Authority for Commerce of Cismarina.

Museum of Cismarina (Museo di Cismarina)

Filippo Turchi, 46th, 5571

The Governors of Cismarina decided to construct a structure in Aggiunta inspired by those found on the piers of Brighton: for this purpose, a non-grid-aligned plot of land was selected, allowing the structure to expand horizontally rather than vertically, unlike the rest of the Neighborhood. Once the imposing structure was completed, it was decided that it would host the Museum of Cismarina.

The Museum of Cismarina aims to contain every block present in the world, complete with descriptions and explanations.

Basalt Housing and the Basalt Column (Alloggi di Basalto e la Colonna di Basalto)

Column by Filippo Turchi, 46th, 5587; Filippo Turchi, start 46th, 5591, end 47th, 5607

In front of the entrance to the Museum of Cismarina, a scientific experiment — the first of its kind — was carried out for the creation of basalt. The experiment succeeded perfectly, and from all the basalt obtained from nothingness (through the contact between ice and lava), enough material was produced to construct a series of housing units and a tower built where Largo Frank X was supposed to continue toward the unexplored territory that would, years later, become the first nucleus of the City of Vestia.

The housing units were intended to accommodate Villagers, though they have never yet been assigned.

Cercati Tower (Torre Cercati)

Guido Cercati, 53rd, 5943

A tower built by Governor Cercati, composed of independent apartments connected by a staircase, complete with foyer and hydraulic elevator. The highest apartment was always used by Governors visiting the City, especially during the construction period of Villa Vesti, due to the lack of closer accommodations and the possibility of observing the immense works from above and at the proper distance.

Every apartment is furnished and ready to be inhabited.

Cercati Zone (Zona Cercati)

Guido Cercati, 54th, 5955

Governor Cercati decided to continue the construction of Aggiunta after a series of operations throughout the rest of the City. For this purpose, he deployed the forces of the Academy of Cismarina, whose architects and engineers developed the ideas and manpower for several constructions of undeniable impact and beauty, finally giving Aggiunta the sense of modernity envisioned since its foundation.

This area lies in the southern part of the Neighborhood; its boundaries are Largo Lucio II Costituente to the west and the river to the east, while to the north lie the bridge to the Island Neighborhood and the MetroCismarina Tamborina Station on the Red Line.

Michelini Tower (Torre Michelini)

Guido Cercati, 54th, 5969

Construction in Aggiunta, Cercati Zone.

The building takes its name from its resemblance to the physique of the Michelin Man, including the legs (which, in this case, are the four foundational pillars of the structure).

Office tower.

The Row Houses (Le Case a Schiera)

Guido Cercati, 55th, 6027

Built along Largo Lucio II Costituente, the Row Houses were modeled after English terraced housing, though twice as large. The seven houses required an enormous amount of resources, given the quantity of concrete, glass, and wood employed. They are perhaps among the most dissonant elements of the entire Neighborhood, yet they are part of the project to populate the area.

Cascone Fountain (Fontana del Cascone)

Giobbe Arisini, 59th, 6234

To give more breathing room to the Neighborhood and slightly interrupt the forest of buildings, it was decided to build a fountain as wide as a palace. Its orientation runs west-east, and it consists of a single waterfall gently cascading into an oval basin.

Galli-Handel Palace, a.k.a. The Piano (Palazzo Galli-Handel, o Il Pianoforte)

Luigi Galli, 64th, 6470

One of the most unusual buildings in the City, its shape vaguely resembles an upright piano. It was designated as an office building.

Galli-Angiolo Tower (Torre Galli-Angiolo)

Luigi Galli, 64th, 6483

One of the most evocative towers in the Aggiunta Neighborhood, it was built by Governor Galli, who continued the impressive and exhausting work of Governor Cercati. An enormous oak tree stands at the center of its base.

Wrapped Tower (Torre Avviluppata)

Giuseppe Crescenti, 64th, 6490

Originally begun as a palace and later reinterpreted as an artistic structure, the Wrapped Tower is now one of the symbols of Aggiunta despite being among its most recent constructions. Once it became clear that there was no further need for usable spaces, the construction of the building was rapidly converted into an artistic venue and public-event square.