Workshop: URR - Urbino Reuse and Restoration

From the study of modern and 20th-century examples of transformation, reuse and conservation of ancient and post-ancient buildings and structures, we intend to reflect on the dialectical relationship between reuse and restoration. A relationship that we aim to investigate in the perspective of the historical long duration and its ‘productivity’ for contemporary design. Considerable space is given to the historical and contemporary debate on the methods and problems of restoration and reuse. Objects of study: Urbino: Palazzo Ducale, Santa Chiara, San Bernardino, Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista; University buildings and student residences (Giancarlo De Carlo). Excursions to the surrounding area (Ancona, Fano, Pesaro...) are planned.

Through lectures and surveys in the company of experts, students will be invited to reflect on the relationship between the pre-existing building and the later interventions, reuse strategies that can be identified in a specific building, historical stratifications, the conservation of the materiality of the work, the issues regarding seismic improvement and containment of energy consumption as well as on the complex on the complex issue of restoring an historic city.

In presence

Organised in working groups or individually, students will work in the field on selected buildings, outlining a theme and analysing it using tools such as sketching, surveying, photographic documentation or writing a short historical-critical text.

Drafting of an individual ‘travel journal’ during the workshops and visits. Delivery of the work will be requested on a date to be agreed upon after the conclusion of the Workshop. 

• Urbino, 07.07.25 - 10.07.25 (Compulsory)