Auditorium in l'aquila, Italy /Renzo Piano




'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.



'auditorium in l'aquila' by renzo piano building workshop, aquila, italy
image © marco caselli nirmal



built in the middle of a park next to the castle
image © marco caselli nirmal



structure illuminated at night revealing the colorful veneer
images © marco caselli nirmal



'auditorium in l'aquila' by renzo piano building workshop, aquila, italy
image © marco caselli nirmal



colorful horizontal planks create a strong architectural language
image © marco caselli nirmal



colorful wood planks wrap the exterior
image © marco caselli nirmal



convex wooden elements shape the acoustics of the theater
image © marco caselli nirmal



image © marco caselli nirmal



painting process of the wood veneer
image © marco caselli nirmal



(left) construction of the acoustic elements
image © marco caselli nirmal
(right) location
image © renzo piano building workshop



floor plan / level 0



section of theater



transverse section



site section



elevation



construction details



sectional sketch



exploded axonometric



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