barchessa

Restore and re-functionalize a ruin in the center of Trento to transform it into a visitor center at the gateway to the city. This project aims to transform the South Barchessa of “Palazzo delle Albere” into a visitor center, establishing its role as a gateway to the city. The challenge was to find a functional yet formal solution that would respect the historical value of the building while adapting it to contemporary needs. The idea revolves around on preserving the essence of the ruin; improving its flexibility and functionality, integrating modern use without losing the architectural traces of the past.
The surrounding urban landscape, marked by decades of transformation, reflects a historical disconnection. Once part of a monumental Renaissance complex, the Barchessa now finds itself overshadowed by the chaotic blend of architectural styles around it. The intervention comprend a sensitive restoration of the existing ruins, applying conservation principles that balance the permanence of historical elements with the functionality required for modern use. We maintained the masonry that history has left behind, so that the architectural palimpsest can be read.

To integrate the historic side to the urban ladscape we liberated the eastern side of the building, creating a small plaza that frames the restored facade. From this front, three access points open: two lead into the building, and one opens to a secluded courtyard-garden via a stone portal. A cor-ten steel staircase, located within the rift of the building, leads visitors up to a public terrace and an event space.

In the interior part of the structure, open-air spaces were left exposed to highlight the ruin's "Ruskinian" quality. Transparent roofing in certain areas, particularly in the visitor center atrium, ensures that the historical layers remain visible. The design avoids creating a solid mass, introducing two narrow open-air passages that divide the floorplan. While one passage accommodates the staircase mentioned above, the other features a vertical cavern, beneath which a pond collects water.

The new visitor center will serve as a welcoming hub for tourists, offering information points, ticketing services, refreshments, and a bookshop. The striking double-height nave, with its rhomboidal wooden mesh ceiling visible through transparent roofing, will become the central feature of the space. A vaulted exhibition hall will extend from this area, with a new passageway that visually connects the first and second exhibition rooms, allowing visitors to move through the building and enjoy continuous views of the historical structure. The following exhibition rooms will adopt a more traditional aesthetic, and a service area, including restrooms, an elevator, and technical spaces, will be placed centrally within the building. ▼read more