Strategies of addition and insertion in the refurbishment of Masseria Cappelli in the Valle del Chiarino, L'Aquila.

The complex of buildings located in Valle del Chiarino in Abruzzo, which is proposed as a case study, forms part of an extensive territorial system of farms that the Cappelli founded during the 18th and 19th centuries. Depending on the various types of buildings, and their level of preservation, the refurbishment project, which is aimed at creating an eco-museum, adopts various intervention strategies: for the country house called “Casone”, which maintain its original size, a wooden box is inserted to recreate the internal space, in accordance with the “house within a house” or insertion criteria, though it is functionally redefined using special, freely arranged blocks; in the mill, in accordance with the addition criteria, a volume is placed over the pre-existing masonry box, extending towards the river, which can be reached via a tree-top walkway. This contribution aims to demonstrate how the goal of defining a consistent new destination for use is connected to the definition of coherent operational strategies and compatible technical options for the refurbishment project.