New headquarters ICCROM

Site: Rome
Year: 2020
Committent of contest  : MIBACT - Segretariato Regionale per il Lazio
Area: 2.861,16 mq
 

The restoration and re-functionalization project involves the reuse of the rooms on the ground floor of the former convent of San Francesco a Ripa.
The ancient refectory with the 17th century frescoes and the oval of the Franciscan saints acquire the new function of library with adjoining reading room. The design choice was directed by the desire to respect the geometries and volumes that make up the architectural apparatus, with particular attention to the various construction phases.
The project includes the construction of a reading room in the ambulatory. To avoid the direct sunlight of the frescoes, the insertion of a taut "velario" was designed, which also guarantees protection from the rain. The furniture designed for the reading room, on the other hand, involves the creation of modular tables that can be decomposed and combined in different ways to ensure a multipurpose use of the space.
The former fencing hall was redesigned as a multipurpose space, connected to an exhibition hall (antiquarium) created in the ambulatory of the cloister of the cistern.
The project envisages the preparation of a panel with the dual function of a projection screen and separator element for a temporary storage space for the seats, in the case of set-ups for small exhibitions.
Another particularly important theme for the re-functionalization of the spaces of the new ICCROM headquarters was to think of a museum itinerary - antiquarium - that would allow the enhancement of the huge amount of archaeological finds found during the various excavation campaigns. An installation based on the relationship with natural light was designed.
An extension of the public space has been created in the external area. In this area, the differences between the functions are highlighted through the use of different materials that define the driveway, pedestrian and parking areas. The colored asphalt identifies the driveway to ensure access to private and / or service vehicles, while the concrete floors distinguish the pedestrian crossing areas. The Ipe wood flooring characterizes the areas intended for display and rest. Finally, modular concrete seats characterized by a defined and essential geometry are placed in correspondence with the exhibition / rest area.