Our surveys and investigations culminated in a final adaptive reuse proposal, where we were tasked to transform the public toilets (a former fontana) near the main square into a space that could serve the community in a particular way. My classmates and I decided to restore and renovate the building as a library and archive, where community members and visitors alike could learn about the rich heritage of Civita. We relocated the bathrooms to the corner, opening up the ground floor, and completed the vaulted arch ceiling with glass so that natural light could illuminate the interior.

Our month-long sojourn showed us a new world of architectural possibility; living among ruins and rituals, we bore witness to the surviving legacy of a commune that, in spite of its reputation as a “dying city,” is still very much alive and kicking.

Instructors Norma Barbacci & Glenn Boornazian

Partners Hima Gobburu, Luryn Hendrickson