Raffaello Bartelletti: un ingegnere romantico

Defining an engineer as romantic rather than positivist or empiricist might initially seem unconventional, as the latter attributes are tradi- tionally more closely associated with science and technology. How- ever, beyond historical periods and trends, every individual embodies a balanced and sometimes contrasting mix of tendencies and inclina- tions. Therefore, the title “romantic” for Raffaello Bartelletti naturally garnered a shared and instinctive agreement among us, the authors. This interpretation was later confirmed during an in-depth examina- tion of his works, which recalled memories of his methodological yet deeply emotional approach. To reconstruct the memory of past events and situations and gather the necessary documentation, we relied on the invaluable support of the engineers who are still carrying on the work of Studio Bartelletti. In particular, Marco Pascucci - the most veteran of Bartelletti’s collaborators and now the custodian of his professional legacy - guided us in collecting and organizing the essential materials and information. After this technical and human journey, we are even more convinced that the term “romantic engineer” is not merely an appropriate designation but also the most authentic representation of Raffaello Bartelletti, whose spirit and vision exemplify the ideals of an extraordinary and singular figure.