The Colosseum in Rome is up for a redesign. Before you imagine the worst, the plan is not to fill up the characteristically ruinous exterior of the Roman amphitheatre. Instead, from 2023 onwards, a temporary floor platform will ensure that visitors can once again stroll where the gladiators of old fought their bloody battles. Until now, there has been a gaping hole there, opening up a view into the catacombs.

The architects of Rome’s Studio Labics want to install a concertina-like structure made of wood and plastic panels in the arena that can be unfolded and contracted. The retractable floor is expected to feature trap doors and hidden lifts. It is also being said that cultural events, such as concerts and theatres, could be held at the Colosseum after the redesign.

While some historians see this project as an outrage, from an archaeological and conservation point of view, of course, we seem to have the exact opposite view!