Former St. Catherine Convent

L’Aquila

Italy, 2016 – 2022
Client: MIT – Provveditorato Interregionale alle OO.PP. per il Lazio, l’Abruzzo e la Sardegna

The former St. Catherine’s Monastery is located in the historical center of the city of L’Aquila and is the result of the layering of interventions, expansions, and additions that have been carried out over time for different functional needs of the space. The earthquake of April 6, 2009, and the subsequent seismic aftershock seriously damaged the structures of the former Monastery, severely straining the behavior and strength of the load-bearing structural elements. ASDEA chose to intervene with innovative, durable, and reversible methods and techniques compatible with the material and structural identity of the building, paying close attention to the basic principles of restoration.

Sustainability is a key factor in ensuring that historic buildings can be preserved for future generations while maintaining their original features and historical value. The restoration of the former Convent was carried out with a focus on sustainability by adopting materials and techniques that would minimize the environmental impact, such as the use of renewable sources of energy and the recycling of materials. For ASDEA, the issue of sustainability is crucial in designing or restoring buildings in a way that is conscious of the alarming phenomenon of climate change. ASDEA is a member of the Italian GBC, and complements its consulting services with economic, social, and environmental sustainability (LCC and LCA analysis, risk assessment, integrated modeling, etc.), and has included a LEED® Green Associate™ in the team.

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