The Ideal Town
From the dream of Roberto Scalmana.
The Beginnings
It all began in the early 2000s, when Roberto Scalmana — an engineer with a deep passion for historic architecture — decided to give shape to an idea he had carried in his mind for a long time: to build an ideal miniature town.
The Growth
Over twenty years of continuous work. Not a weekend hobby: a daily, constant, profound commitment. A relationship with time that is itself part of the work.
Today
Today The Ideal Town keeps growing, one building at a time. Each new project is another page of a story that has never stopped — where past, present, and future share the same landscape.
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Milestones
The journey
1996
First steps
First experiments
First experiments in gypsum. The results are unsatisfying: the material is fragile and imprecise.
2000
The birth
March 2000
March 2000: The Ideal Town is born. Cement mortar becomes the primary material. The first buildings rise on the hill.
2002
The ancient
Archaeological site
The archaeological site begins with the theatre and the Temple of Hades, inspired by 5th century BC Classical Greece.
2008
The Cathedral
Cathedral begins
Construction of the Cathedral begins — the most significant and complex structure in the city. Prefabricated panel technique.
2011
The sacred
Paleochristian complex
The Paleochristian Complex is born: basilica with three naves, octagonal mausoleum, Byzantine micromosaics in marble and enamel.
2025
Today
Romanesque church
The Romanesque Church with bell tower and surrounding village. Presented at Milano Fuorisalone in the FederBeton space.
The process
The method
Every building begins with a study. Sketches, technical drawings, structural design, material selection, handcrafted production. A process that can take weeks or months for a single element.
I have never thought of myself as an artist. I am a builder. I see a building, I study it, and I build it. The rest is patience.