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europan 13

Urban regeneration of the historic center of L'Aquila

This project was born after my Erasmus year at the Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, in L'Aquila (Italy) in 2012, and later became the main subject of my Final Career Project.
 
The main challenge of this project was the context of the location: a city destroyed by an earthquake. In this context arises the strategy for the reconstruction of its historic center. It is based on a detailed study of the different ways of acting in the historic city, which will result in a flexible strategy that suits the needs of the building type in question.
 
When I studied the history of L'Aquila, I found it striking because the city had suffered the same situation repeatedly throughout history. This made me realize that it was not only the resolution of a technical problem but an opportunity caused by a catastrophe of an earthquake.
 
Therefore, the objective is to re-habitate the historic center of the city. Which is my answer? I study each building include my area of action, and reply with the best strategy according to their level and type of damage. I propose a strategy in which the traces of the earthquake are treated as part of the history of the city. I do not pretend to hide or make them up, but to make evident and create the possibility to live with them.
How can I do this? Rigidizing and separating the damaged apples from the ground plane, of the floor that shook the city and destroyed it.
 
The facades, while maintaining their original position and alignment are hung and raised to allow greater fluidity and permeability on the ground floor. 
The trays that hold concrete facades, make clear the flexible status of the proposed system, while turns seismically isolated the building, to prevent this situation from repeating. 
The orthogonal grid derived from existing facades serves as geometric support to my proposal, allowing to achieve maximum residential functionality with a laminated wood structure covered on the outside by a ventilated facade of black wooden slats.
 
What's the result? A heterogeneous system in which the historic facade becomes essential, because it serves as a belt uniting the structural behavior of the concrete supports.
 
 

Click here to see on ISSUU

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