Quadriennale di Roma moves to Porta Portese.

The headquarters of the Quadriennale di Roma, currently based at Villa Carpegna in the city's Aurelio district, is to move to the former papal arsenal building at Porta Portese. 

The Quadriennale is a major show to promote prevailing trends in contemporary Italian art, and is held with the support of the Italian culture ministry.

The Quadriennale's new base was once used for the construction and maintenance of the papal fleet, with access to the Ripa Grande port on the Tiber below.

The papal arsenal was commissioned by Pope Clement XI and its design, by an unknown architect, was based on the larger papal arsenal at Civitavecchia, designed by Bernini and concluded by Carlo Fontana.

The Rome complex opened for business in 1715 and remained in operation until the end of the 19th century when the building of the Tiber's muraglioni walls put an end to the old river port.

The building will be used for offices as well as exhibitions and events related to the Rome Quadriennale, whose next edition is scheduled in 2020.

The €8 million project, funded by the culture ministry, is being overseen by Ostiense-based architectural and engineering firm Studio Insula which was also responsible for the overhaul of the ex-Mattatoio complex in Testaccio. The firm's plan forsees the covering of the buildings' open arches, probably with glass.

Directed by Sarah Cosulich, the 17th Quadriennale will reportedly have an international dimension – a major departure for an event that has, traditionally, had Italian art as its focal point.

The Quadriennale was first held in Rome in 1931 and its most recent edition, in 2016, was at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni. For more details see La Quadriennale di Roma website.