Borgo Termetrio
Cisternino – Italy
2024
Two-round project competition – First prize
RESEARCH AND RURAL SOCIOLOGY LABORATORY
In the heart of the Apulia Region, the easternmost tip of Italy, there is a place of surprising biodiversity, the plateau of the Itria Valley. A place of remarkable biodiversity, where there is a deep connection between the land and the community. To preserve the ecosystem and historical heritage of the region, a redesign competition for the “Masseria Termetrio” has been organized.
Our proposal focuses on creating a rural and social Research Laboratory, where concepts like “conserve” and “innovate” merge, giving rise to a true laboratory that stimulates visitors’ critical thinking.
Three key concepts in our proposal are: landscape, art, and architecture. These concepts intertwine to create a unified and coherent project that conserves, interprets, and revalues the existing natural and cultural environment..
The first concept, landscape, is the foundation upon which our proposal is built. The preservation and adaptation of the original landscape are essential. By selectively manipulating the topography with walls made from local stones, multifunctional spaces are created for planned activities such as events, concerts, etc. This approach respects the local tradition and harmoniously relates to the natural environment, achieving an architecture that blends quietly with nature.
Regarding architecture, we focus on the restoration and adaptation of existing historical buildings. These buildings are preserved and integrated into the project to maintain collective memory and provide modern spaces such as museums, conference halls, exhibition areas, and educational facilities, while respecting the site’s heritage and cultural value.
The project is structured into three main spaces (past, present, and future):
Firstly, a space dedicated to the past, located at the entrance of the main building, which introduces the entire process that led to the project’s realization, the museum of the founding fathers, and an encounter with the history of Cisternino. Secondly, the central hall provides an opportunity for a spatial experience centered around the life and natural resources of the Masseria’s territory. Finally, the laboratories, with their characteristics and potentialities—ranging from generation and regeneration to territorialization—open pathways for reflection towards a human-scale future.
With Corsaro Architetti and Mario Luigi Antonio Martell
