The adaptive reuse of Palazzo Ardinghelli in L’Aquila

After the earthquake of L’Aquila in 2009, the University of the town was charged of an experimental project for the restoration of an eighteenth century baroque mansion. The research of a good balance between unpredictable conditions of use for the ancient building and the necessary respect of its historic details, has addressed design choices towards an adaptive reuse, looking for optimal and low impact features for transformative interventions. To reach this aim, the project concerns the introduction of new stairs, lifts and service blocks in order to allow original and multiple modes of space use. For the new inserted objects, which have to be lightweight, easy to install and reversible, the most suitable material is weathering steel, which is able to guarantee not only undeniable structural capabilities, but also high space configuration potentialities, so as to establish a contrast between the ancient and the new.