On 14 May 2021, the world’s first museum dedicated exclusively to public space, Museo Spazio Pubblico (Public Space Museum), opened its doors in Bologna. It was conceived and designed by Dr  Luisa Bravo, founder and president of City Space Architecture, during the COVID‑19 pandemic as the adaptive reuse and transformation of a former suburban neighbourhood supermarket.

Museo Spazio Pubblico is the headquarters of City Space Architecture in Bologna.

Through exhibitions, workshops and research, the museum explores public space as a dynamic commons, aligning with City Space Architecture’s mission to study and share public space culture. The museum embodies City Space Architecture’s horizontal, collaborative ethos, fostering citizen participation and interdisciplinary dialogue on human rights and democratic governance.

The Museum’s main room features a site-specific artwork by renowned contemporary Italian artist Flavio Favelli. His ceiling fresco, Raffaello 500, depicts on a monumental scale (3.62 × 9.25 meters) the 500,000 Italian lira banknote bearing the portrait of Raffaello Sanzio, celebrated by critics as Italy’s most spiritual artist. This artwork lends a distinctive and permanent identity to the Museum, enriching the spatial experience through imagination and poetic allure.

At the opening, Luisa Bravo and Flavio Favelli engaged in a dialogue with:
Lorenzo Balbi, artistic director of MAMbo – Museum of Modern Art of Bologna and Claudio Musso, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of Bergamo and independent curator.