שיפוץ ושחזור מוזיאון באיטליה || פרויקטים

Alessandro Verona Studio’s restoration and redevelopment project breathes new life into the thirteenth-century Tower of Santa Maria, an integral part of the magnificent architectural complex of Palazzo Torriani in Udine, in Northern Italy. This transformation transcends mere restoration, as the tower evolves into a device that - by seamlessly integrating memory and knowledge - channels the essence of local material culture and the remarkable ingenuity that has propelled its industry.


Photo Credit: Massimo Crivellari


Photo Credit: Massimo Crivellari


Photo Credit: Massimo Crivellari

The intervention establishes new connections between the city and the historic structure. The ancient arches are carefully restored, bringing them back to their original form. The notion of accessibility extends beyond the ground floor, encompassing all five levels of the tower.The external staircase gives way to a more efficient elevator, ensuring seamless mobility throughout the entire structure Alessandro Verona’s project for “La vetrina dell’Ingegno” [The Showcase of Ingenuity] effectively establishes a critical distance between historical memory and contemporary intervention. Similar to the new volume that extends the program on the ground floor, the structure of the new elevator serves as a contrasting element against the tower, taking the form of a sleek surface resembling an abstract blade, deliberately standing out from the solid mass of stone.


Photo Credit: Massimo Crivellari


Photo Credit: Massimo Crivellari


Photo Credit: Massimo Crivellari

After a 15-year closure, the Santa Maria Tower in Udine has reopened its doors to the public, now housing “La vetrina dell’Ingegno,” a new museum complex dedicated to showcasing the rich history and unique industrial activities of this region in Northern Italy.
The architectural project by AV/S Alessandro Verona Studio has successfully integrated new functional elements, which not only provide accessibility to the monumental structures but also establish a critical distance from the meticulously renovated existing features.We find ourselves in the historic center of Udine, precisely along the fourth ring of walls, at a location of immense defensive importance for the city. The tower, initially constructed as a defensive structure and as a link between the interior and exterior of the city, has an intriguing history that spans various functions and purposes over the years. Originally utilized for defensive purposes, the tower eventually transformed into a private residence, made available for rent by the municipality. In more recent times, it served as a shop, an art studio, and in the 1980s, even as the “Museum of the City.”


Photo Credit: Massimo Crivellari


Photo Credit: Massimo Crivellari

“La Vetrina dell’Ingegno” houses a permanent exhibition on the history of the Udine Industrial Association and a meeting space on the ground floor. Across the five floors of the tower, temporary exhibitions are set up, each dedicated to one of the eleven product sectors of Confindustria Udine. On the top floor of the tower, an installation accompanies the extraordinary new perspective offered to the city.
The exhibition design, inspired by the renowned Quaranta5 series by Gino Valle and Herbert Ohl, and drawn by Alessandro Verona himself, establishes a flexible system for showcasing exhibitions related to various product sectors that will unfold over time.
On the ground floor, in addition to a section dedicated to the history of Palazzo Torriani itself, there are presentations showcasing the history of Confindustria Udine and an introduction to the various product sectors. This section focuses on highlighting outstanding entrepreneurs. On the upper floors, through a carefully curated audiovisual documentation, an annual presentation is made to showcase industrial activities that align with the product sectors of Confindustria Udine. These presentations emphasize and celebrate the history and defining characteristics of industrial production activities in the local area and the city,which La Vetrina dell’Ingegno embraces.


Photo Credit: Alessandro Verona Studio