ROCCA OF ARQUATA DEL TRONTO

Preserving Cultural Heritage

Architectural Preservaton Studio

Year: 2020-2021

Advisor: Alessandro Bianchi, Davide del Curto

Locaton: Arquata del Tronto, Ascoli Piceno (Italy)

The municipality of Arquata del Tronto covers an area of about 93 square kilometres and includes 15 small scattered hamlets and localities: Arquata del Tronto, Bargo d’Arquata, Camartina, Capodacqua, Colle d’Arquata, Faete, Forca Canapine, Forca di Presta, Pescara del Tronto, Piedilama, Pretare, Spelonga, Trisungo, Tufo, Vezzano.Its territory is mainly mountainous, being located in the Apennines area. Thus small towns are built on cliffs directly overlooking the green valleys. The Fortress of Arquata del Tronto is a medieval fortress erected around 1200 A.D., in a dominant and strategic position, approximately 50 meters higher, with respect to the inhabited town centre. In August and in October 2016 two important seismic events occurred. The combination of the two of them destroyed most of the houses in the town and caused some serious damages to the fortress. In the city parts of demolished buildings and their rubbles left by the two earthquakes, cover the road and the pedestrian ways, making it impossible to enter and walk in the city. The proposed intervention at the city scale has the aim to start the process of reconstruction of the buildings so that the citizens can return to their houses, and to make safe crossing the town during the construction works. A safe path in the ‘ghost town’ follows the boundaries of the demolished and still-standing buildings and will provide access to the Rocca. Concerning the Rocca, the project proposes a restoration and strengthening intervention. A series of ramps and stairs will make all parts of the Rocca accessible, a monument with different views of the city and the valley. As in the case of the ghost town, interventions in the Rocca take into account the idea of creating a journey, an itinerary. To maintain the historical value of town and the castle, it is proposed to preserve the Rocca mainly kept as a monument. Besides this, some temporary public functions can be held inside.

Il comune di Arquata del Tronto si estende su una superfcie di circa 93 chilometri quadrati e comprende 15 piccole frazioni e località sparse: Arquata del Tronto, Bargo d’Arquata, Camartina, Capodacqua, Colle d’Arquata, Faete, Forca Canapine, Forca di Presta, Pescara del Tronto, Piedilama, Pretare, Spelonga, Trisungo, Tufo, Vezzano.Il suo territorio è prevalentemente montuoso, essendo situato nella zona appenninica. Per questo i piccoli centri abitati sono costruiti su rupi che si affacciano direttamente sulle verdi vallate. La Fortezza di Arquata del Tronto è una fortezza medievale eretta intorno al 1200 d.C., in posizione dominante e strategica, a circa 50 metri di altezza, rispetto al centro abitato. Nell’agosto e nell’ottobre 2016 si sono verifcati due importanti eventi sismici. La combinazione dei due ha distrutto la maggior parte delle case del paese e ha causato alcuni gravi danni alla fortezza. In città parti di edifci demoliti e le loro macerie, lasciate dai due terremoti, ricoprono la strada e le vie pedonali, rendendo impossibile entrare e camminare in città. L’intervento proposto a scala cittadina ha l’obiettivo di avviare il processo di ricostruzione degli edifci in modo che i cittadini possano tornare nelle loro case, e di rendere sicuro l’attraversamento della città durante i lavori. Un percorso sicuro nella “città fantasma” segue i confni degli edifci demoliti e di quelli ancora in piedi e consentirà di accedere alla Rocca. Per quanto riguarda la Rocca, il progetto propone un intervento di restauro e consolidamento. Una serie di rampe e scale renderà accessibili tutte le parti della Rocca, un monumento con diversi punti di vista sulla città e sulla valle. Come nel caso della città, gli interventi nella Rocca tengono conto dell’idea di creare un viaggio, un itinerario. Per mantenere il valore storico della città e del castello, si propone di conservare la Rocca soprattutto come monumento. Oltre a questo, all’interno si possono svolgere alcune funzioni pubbliche temporanee.

PHASE 1

Current situation in Arquata del Tronto. The frst step in the reconstruction will consist in creating a safe path, therefore cleaning from the rubble and rebuilding the streets according to their historical layout. This safe path in the ‘ghost town’ will provde access to the Rocca while araising people’s awareness on the devasting effects of the earthquake of the 24th of August 2016. Four years later Arquata del Tronto is still covered in rubble and desolation.

Th In The Town

PHASE 2

To allow people to safely visit the area and the buildings, both those still standing and those completely demolished, will be covered with scaffoldings. On the scaffolding will be displayed a printed image of the buildings in their ruined state. These scaffoldings will also later facilitate working sites for the workers employed in the reconstruction of the city. Therefore, this safe path will make the city of Arquata del Tronto fully accessible also during the recostruction phase.

PHASE 3

After the philological reconstruction of the historical city. Inhabitants are now able to go back to their houses and to repopulate the city.

PHASE 1

Reactivation of the existing paths

PHASE 1

Removal of the existing roof and pillars. Lowering of the pavement inside and outside at -1,50 m

PHASE 2

Placement of the staircases inside the polygonal tower, in front of the main tower and the new path on the roof. New design for the staircase inside the tower in order to be safer

PHASE 2

Making the paths safe by applying a handrail where there is slope

PHASE 3

Placement of the new roof and pillars in order to create an in-door courtyard for activities. Reconstruction of the destroyed merlons both on the main and polygonal tower with di erent material and almost same colour. This makes di cult to recognise the reconstruction from far away, but it is visible when the observant is close to the merlon

PHASE 3

Demolition of the abusive building and replacement with a new one, more connected with the surroundings

PHASE 4

Renovation of the terrace next to the boundary wall in the north. The new levels make possible to anyone to enjoy the this space

FINAL DESIGN

The new system of paths inside the Rocca connects the outside to the top of the main tower. These new additions are able to create safe spaces and paths