Oristano New Prefettura

The redevelopment project of the Compendio Carcerario in Piazza Manno was conceived with the aim of returning this important urban fragment to the community of Oristano, mending the historical and perceptual divide between the old town center and the modern areas. Located in the heart of the city, the complex represents a strategic node both for its symbolic value and its position within the urban fabric. The intervention combines the rationalization of the functional program for the new Prefecture headquarters with the enhancement of the site's historical identity, through an integrated design involving public spaces, museum areas, and new residential functions.
The opening of a new pedestrian entrance from Piazza Manno, made possible by the demolition of the former housing building in the southern portion, marks the first step toward a physical and visual reconnection with the city. A lightweight double metal mesh structure traces the original layout of the detention wing’s city walls, defining a new open and permeable urban space, capable of hosting temporary exhibitions and suggesting, through a contemporary architectural language, the memory of the past.

The outdoor spaces are conceived as a natural extension of Piazza Manno, initiating the memorial and museum path of the prison. The spatial sequence guides visitors to the southern façade of the former detention wing, now fully legible in its scenic significance. This new architectural gateway assumes the role of an “urban door,” evoking the ancient Porta Mari and reinterpreting it in a contemporary key.

Simultaneously, the architectural project for the buildings aims to protect and enhance the existing structures through targeted interventions designed to improve distribution efficiency, system upgrades, and user experience quality, while respecting the new functional purpose. In this perspective, the Prefecture headquarters, museum areas, and new residential spaces coexist within a coherent system capable of embracing the past and looking toward the future. ▼read more