In 1972, Italy tried to fit an entire city into a 1-kilometer-long building. Half a century later, it is still paying the consequences

Corviale, a nearly one-kilometer public housing block in Rome, was launched in the 1970s as a linear city for about 8,500 people.

The developer’s collapse left key parts unfinished, and the central floor meant for services and communal spaces was turned into housing.

Over time, the complex suffered from poor maintenance, circulation problems, illegal occupations, disputes over costs, and broad urban decay.

Once considered for demolition, Corviale survived and became both a symbol of failed public housing and a notable landmark in urban history.