A Question of Value. Vittone and Real Estate Appraisal

Abstract

Vittone’s Istruzioni diverse, published in 1766, include one of the first dissertations published in Italian on the appraisal of buildings and other kinds of real estate properties. While the text is largely an expression of Vittone’s practical approach to any form of professional activity, the Piedmontese architect takes an interesting stand in favor of an assessment of the building’s condition, that is open to evaluating the impact of design improvements or building extensions. The appraisal process, thus, considers the present condition of a building, as well as its possible future transformation. This, of course, can be considered as a self-promotional statement, as only an expert architectural professional can correctly foresee these different “states” of a building. The present essay provides a new scenario for this little known dissertation, with reference to Vittone’s activity as an expert in urban real estate appraisals and to two specific episodes, where the architect has played the official role of the “estimatore”.