‘auditorium in l’aquila’ by renzo piano building workshop, aquila, italy image © marco caselli nirmal all images courtesy of renzo piano building workshop

 

 

inaugurated october 7th, the new temporary ‘auditorium in l’aquila’ designed by renzo piano in collaboration with atelier traldi aims to revitalize the musically rooted historical center of the city of aquila, after the destruction of many cultural buildings due to the 2009 earthquake which hit the area. the construct is located next to the castle and to the original theater, in a square that rests between two socially contrasting regions of the town, and will be the first step to the revitalization of this significant site. the general form of the project is conceived as three cubes, the largest of which is resting at a seemingly arbitrary slant. the 30-degree angle of the middle volume corresponds to the angle of the terraced seating, capable of hosting up to 238 guests. the technical equipment, restrooms and private dressing rooms for the performers flank the main structure, connected by a steel and glass corridor.

each mass is constructed entirely of timber, using larch planks and sheets for the exterior skin and flooring and spruce for the structural box trusses. the material was chosen as a natural juxtaposition to the stone walls nearby, but also due to its seismic characteristics and the fact that its a renewable resource. to offset the amount of lumber used in the construction, a total of 200 trees will be planted in the immediate park.

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 2 ‘auditorium in l’aquila’ by renzo piano building workshop, aquila, italy image © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 3 built in the middle of a park next to the castle image © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 4 structure illuminated at night revealing the colorful veneer images © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 5 ‘auditorium in l’aquila’ by renzo piano building workshop, aquila, italy image © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 6 colorful horizontal planks create a strong architectural language image © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 7 colorful wood planks wrap the exterior image © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 8 convex wooden elements shape the acoustics of the theater image © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 9 image © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 10 painting process of the wood veneer image © marco caselli nirmal

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 11 (left) construction of the acoustic elements image © marco caselli nirmal (right) locationimage © renzo piano building workshop

 

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 12floor plan / level 0

 

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 13

section of theater

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 14 transverse section

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 15 site section

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 16 elevation

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 17 construction details

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 18 sectional sketch

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 19 exploded axonometric

 

 

renzo piano: auditorium in aquila - 20 model image © renzo piano building workshop

 

 

project info:

capacity concert hall: n ° 238 spectators surface cube 1: 311 square meters surface cube 2: 99 square meters surface cube 3: 61 square meters area: 2500 square meters square side cube 1: 18m side cube 2: 11m side cube 3: 9 m site area: 4491 sqm green retrained structural isolators: 14

20km of external colored slats, 24 different colors

metal parts: 800,000 nails 100,000 screws 10,000 and angle steel brackets 5,000 bolts / threaded rods, nuts and washers