Visit the Coliseum in Rome and you will notice that the original arena floor is gone. Where the floor once stood is a huge hole that offers a perfect view of the catacomb space beneath. But that could change if an Italian architectural firm gets its way. According to news sources, Studio Labics wants to install a retractable floor partly made of plastic.
If you are imagining historians being outraged by this plan, you’re not far off. Apparently, a number of people are terribly unhappy about the proposal. They want to see the Coliseum remain as is. On the other hand, proponents of the plan want to see the Coliseum used for more than just historical education. They want to use it as an event venue.
It is reported that there are no plans to touch the facade. Nor is there any talk of refinishing the ruins in any way that would harm their historical integrity. Of course, that is a matter of perspective. Opponents of the plan believe a wood and plastic floor does exactly what promoters say they are not going to do.
Wood and Plastic Panels
The proposal to build a new Coliseum floor is still in its early stages. If it does come to fruition, it will not be for a couple of years yet. Architects want to install a floor made of wood beams and plastic panels that can be folded and retracted when necessary. Designers would also like to include trapdoors and lifts that could facilitate performances requiring floor access from underneath.
Plastic is an excellent choice because it is lightweight and durable. Of course, architects would have to choose the right kind of plastic. They would also have to pair it with the right kind of wood to maintain structural integrity across the entire floor surface.
Should the plan move forward, recycled plastic would be an ideal candidate. A number of different industrial plastics could be used to create a floor surface more than capable of withstanding the weight of people and equipment on top of it. But the right design would be critical.
Recycling Industrial Plastic
One of the things that make the proposal so intriguing from a manufacturing standpoint is the proven capabilities of recycled plastics. All over the world, there are companies like Tennessee-based Seraphim Plastics, companies that routinely collect and recycle industrial scrap plastic. The plastic they recycle is used to manufacture new industrial products.
If a suitable plastic could not be found for the Coliseum floor, engineers and architects could always turn to new or recycled carbon fiber. The price tag would be considerably higher, but carbon fiber’s reinforced make-up offers a lot more tensile strength. It would still be light enough to handle the floor panels with minimal effort.
It is Up to the Decision-Makers
A proposal to add a retractable floor to the Coliseum is now on the table. It is up to Rome’s decision-makers to figure out where to go from here. In the meantime, the rest of us can dream of walking across the space where gladiators once fought. We can imagine what it must have been like to stand in the midst of all those people and bask in the glory of victory.
If the plan ever becomes reality, there is a good chance that recycled plastic will be part of it. Somewhere, there are probably already circulating plastics that will eventually find their way to a recycling center and then on to the manufacturer who will create the plastic floor panels. Just thinking about it is enough to get the imagination running wild.
