Reconstruction of the Castle of Avigliana | Thesis Book

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CASTLE OF AVIGLIANA A touristic center for Susa Valley Final Thesis Book

by Vitรณria Luppi

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POLITECNICO DI MILANO School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering Master of Architecture - Built Environment Interiors

Author: VITÓRIA LUPPI Student ID: 896376

Supervisor: ALESSANDRO ROCCA Academic Year 2019/2020

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ÂŤWe excavate the past in order to find memories that are embedded in places, like the work of archaeologists. It is a searching and researching process that drives our curiosity. It allows deep thinking and also facilitates encountering things that have been forgotten, erased or vanished by our global modernization. This is the first step of our process often full of surprises and discoveries through which we begin to believe in the idea of excavating collective memories. Then that archaeology, the process of thinking from the past to the future, slowly becomes architectureÂť (Tsuyoshi Tane, Archaeology of the Future, Tokyo, TOTO Publishing, 2018).

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I dedicate this work to everyone that helped me in this process, even with small attitudes. My biggest thanks goes to my father, my mother and my grandfather, who always believed in my potential and made my dreams possible.

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ABSTRACT

This thesis work presents a design proposal for a touristic center in the archaeological site of the Avigliana’s Castle, in the Avigliana city, Susa Valley, now characterized by the presence of the castle’s walls architectural ruins. Located in the top of the Pezzulano peak (+440) and accessible only by walking through a stone natural path, the ruins’ grandiosity and importance remains, but in need for a reconnection with the city and the Valley. The Susa Valley is rich in history and nature, with touristic attractions like the Sacra di San Michele, however there isn’t any reference point to organise the tourism and its activities in the Valley.

Based on the understanding of the castle’s history and on the analysis of the present tourism, a specific site project was designed with three pavilions and a connection path, which dialogues with the ruins in a way that evokes the place’s imaginary and realm and its memory. The project aims to bring the castle’s importance back to the city and to the valley by telling its history, promoting encounters and appreciation, and respecting the archaeological site and its contemplative elements.

Keywords: Avigliana’s Castle; Avigliana; Susa Valley; Topography, Archeology; Reuse; New Intervention; Peak; Archeological Site

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTEXT p. 13

ANALISYS p. 25

CONCEPT p. 57

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL p. 65

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT p. 103 Final Thesis Studio D p. 105 Thesis FAUUSP p. 117 Final Thesis p. 133

REFERENCES p. 237

BIBLIOGRAPHY p. 251

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CONTEXT

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ITALY

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PIEDMONT

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SUSA VALLEY

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AVIGLIANA CITY

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CASTLE OF AVIGLIANA

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ANALYSIS

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SUSA VALLEY TOURISM

The tourism is one of the most important activities on the Susa Valley. With data from the Tesori del Valle di Susa, it was possible to understand the most requested touristic attractions (many of them related to culture) and also that the italians are interested on their own country history.

Unfortunately, the existent info points and cultural spaces are not well spreaded for tourists or local population.

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AVIGLIANA CITY

Avigliana, Vian-a in piemontese, with 23,22 km² and 12.480 inhabitants (sense of 2017, January), is a town and commune of Turin in the Piedmont region. The city rises 383 meters from the sea level, and its about 25 kilometers from Torino by walking trough Val di Susa, a strategical position in an economically and military sense.

The landscape was mostly formed during the big glacial periods, when the valley received mass of detritus from moraine period and generated two lakes, called Piccolo (365 meters from sea level) and Grande (352 meters from sea level, approximately 100 hectares, maximum profundity 30 meters), today used by aquatic sports’ lovers. It was during the last two glacial periods (Riss, 230.000 years ago, and Wurm, 120.000 yeras ago) that the lakes were formed, but nowadays only these two lakes remained in Avigliana.

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Excavations along time found fossils of molluscs and other animals, an entire paleofauna, what motivated the regional law nº 46 in 1980, May 16th, founding the natural park of Avigliana’s lakes (410 hectares) in order to maintain the environmental heritage.

The alps panorama was formed specially during the Mesozoic with under the sea volcanos, giving origin to lava rocks which formed the Pirchiriano peak, where is located the Sacra di San Michele (962 meters), and the Pezzulano peak, with Avigliana’s castle in the top (467 meters). The landscape, with an ecological and climate peculiarities (lakes, mountains, city), is extremely attractive for tourism, which unfortunately is not well disclosure nowadays.

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The historical centre of the city goes up the Pezzulano peak, with the ruins of the castle visible specially from the Piazza Conte Rosso, surrounded by medieval houses and where was concentrated many public activities in the past during the medieval period, having now the Municipality and Tribunal of the city.

The main city’s activities before the Second World War were agriculture, livestock and handicraft, being still current nowadays.

After the war, there was a notable shift of people to the cities, phenomena that happens even in small cities.

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CASTLE OF AVIGLIANA

Before talking about a new architecture and a new project, it’s necessary to understand the castle’s history over time, its importance and how it was seen before becoming the ruins now, even those with major importance to the city nowadays.

Even with many different elements and languages, for example the two towers, one circular and another square shape, all of them dialogue with one another.

The current situation of the castle is due to two major historical events: the French invasion and the carelessness of correct administration over time, not earthquakes or atmospheric events. In order to situate these events, a timeline with the main events is going to be presented along the paper.

In the 574, the Lombardo King Cleph (Clefi) built the castle of Avigliana on the

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top of the Pezzulano peak, but there is no documentation of it being used as residence or military. From 750, with the end of Lombardo domination, the population of Avigliana gradually moved from the Dora river margins to the peak Pezzulano, in order to escape from the instability due to the passage of many people in the Val di Susa. It was documented that the peak of Pezzulano was fortified in the X Century, but the first document that mentions the castle is on 961.

The city depended from the Abbey of Novalesa, but from 888 some invasions of the Saracens made people take refuge inside the Sacra di San Michele to do not succumb to foreign domination.

The fight against the Saracen was won by the Arduin di Ivreva, or Arduin V, in the XI Century, which also built the first settlement of Avigliana’s castle. In 1046,

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his granddaughter married Oddone di Savoia, bringing interest in the region of Piemonte, mainly commercial. It was in the 1174 that the castle was destroyed by Federico Barbarossa in his assaults.

During the Savoia’s expansion to Turin and their subsequent transference to the court at Torino, they used Avigliana as house to the Savoia’s counts and the castle gained importance as military fortress. For the inhabitants of the city it didn’t change their routine, even if Avigliana city was always important as a traffic point for those who walked along the alps. The ‘strada del Cenisio’ and ‘del Monginevro’ were used for the merchants that attended the big fairs at Fiandre and Champagne zone, and passing by the city, a toll should be paid to the city.

Until 1386, the Savoia lived their golden period, specially by the toll from the roads and commercial activities. Between the XII and XIV century, Avigliana’s castle gained two different fortifications. In the XV Century, Avigliana was made important by being strategic to defend the borders from the French’s invasion being used for the Savoia court occasionally.

With the death of Amedeo VIII di Savoia, in 1451, there were five successors in a period of half century, having Filiberto II di Savoia as the last of this period. Filiberto II made agreements with Luigi XII, current France’s king, and allowed French military troops to access and go through Val di Susa to access Lombardia. After the death of Filippo II, the situation got worse due to problems with French crimes. Carlos III, Savoia count, closed the borders and Francis I, new king of France, sent his army

by orders of the marshal De Montmorency.

In 1536, after conquering the city of Susa, the French army partially destroyed the castle of Avigliana by gun firing it. The walls, which were not built to resist the new armoury, did not resist and the enemy was able to open a hole and penetrate the fortress.

For about twenty years, the Piemonte region was disputed between France and Spain. It was only with Emanuele Filiberto, who won the San Quintino battle, that the Savoy won back their prestige and in 1559 the countries signed a peace agreement.

In 1627 the war between France and Spain has been resumed, attacking the castle. The Duke Carlo Emanuele, by the side of the Spanish, was forced to ratify the peace agreement at the Castello di Avigliana. The Avigliana’s population

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decayed from 2000 to 260 and many houses destroyed. In 1655 the castle was restructured and modernized probably by Amedeo di Castellamonte, but in 1691 that a French army, by the command of Catinet general, exploded the fortification of the castle, from which it remains only the ruins now.

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MASTERPLAN

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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CONTEXT TRANSVERSAL SECTION

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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CONTEXT LONGITUDINAL SECTION

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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From the ruins today, it is still possible to recognize some aspects of the castle planimetry, such as the base of the square tower, the door between the high and low court; the high courtyard presented the residential part and the lower courtyard, before the entrance to the central tower, there were the warehouse, the oven and the stalls. The biggest remaining feature is the fake round tower, the highest existing wall, which existed to impose a sense of power on the castle (and still does), without any specific function.

Nowadays, the ruins of the castle are open for visitation, with no control and little maintenance ( just cutting the plants). The local administration cannot administrate the management of a large cultural asset, and the suggestion of the local archaeologist and the Associazione Archeologica Aviglianese is an awareness of the importance of space as history and memory and the need to respect the ruins, for tourists and local population as well.

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SITE VIEWS

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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CONCEPT

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WHAT _A touristic center divided into three pavilion and connected by a pathway. The three pavilions: museum, open theatre and belvedere HOW _Three pavilions made of wood structure with superficial foundation points - not agressive on the archeological site _Pathway with natural stone from Avigliana city following the existing pathway track sequel

WHY _Organise the tourism of the Susa Valley into one main point of reference _Value the history of the Castello di Avigliana and its’ importance to Avigliana city _Respect to the archeological site _Understand the history of the place _Highlight the natural views and landscape of Susa Valley and Avigliana city

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RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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CONTEXT ELEVATIONS MODEL

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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AXONOMETRY VIEW MODEL CONTEXT

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE VS RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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AXONOMETRY VIEW MODEL

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE VS RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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MASTERPLAN

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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CONTEXT LONGITUDINAL SECTION

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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LONGITUDINAL SECTION

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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LEVEL +434

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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LEVEL +436.7

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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LEVEL +440

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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LONGITUDINAL SECTION ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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LONGITUDINAL SECTION

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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TRANSVERSAL SECTION ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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TRANSVERSAL SECTION

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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EAST ELEVATION

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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EAST ELEVATION

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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NORTH ELEVATION

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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NORTH ELEVATION

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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SOUTH ELEVATION

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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SOUTH ELEVATION

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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WEST ELEVATION

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE

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WEST ELEVATION

RECONSTRUCTION PROPOSAL

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DESIGN PROCESS

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FINAL THESIS STUDIO D

During the Final Thesis Studio D, with the supervision of professor Alessandro Rocca and other studio professors, it was developed an initial idea of the touristic center. All the pavilions would be squareshaped and only museum + facilities, with an open air museum pathway made of steel and closed museum area. Also, some panels at the soil level were added to create a contrast between the new and the old with new textures and views.

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C

+435

+432.3

B'

+430

+432

+431

+431

+429

+428

+427

A'

A

+438

+439

+438

+437

+436

+435

+434

+433

432

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

B

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

+437

+433

+434

+435

+436

1/100

PLAN LEVEL +435

C'

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

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114 115

C

+441

+432.3

B'

+430

B

+441

+441

+432

+431

+431

+429

+428

+427

A'

+441

A

+438

+439

+438

+441

+439

+434

+433

432

+437

+433

+434

+435

+436

+440

PLAN LEVEL +441 1/100

C'

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C

+444.7

+432.3

B'

+430

B

+444.7

+444.7

+444.7

+432

+431

+431

+429

+428

+427

A'

A

+438

+439

+438

+444.7

+436

+441

+439

+435

+434

+433

432

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

+437

+433

+434

+435

+436

PLAN LEVEL +444.7 1/100

C'

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

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EAST ELEVATION 1/100

SECTION A-A1 1/100

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THESIS FAUUSP

Being an double degree student, I decided to continue to develop this project also in Brazil, on which I had a different perspective together with professor Luis Antonio Jorge. The concept was the same, but the material would be concrete, all elevated and all pavilions the same. The focus was on the material and on the elevated pathway.

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FINAL THESIS POLITECNICO DI MILANO

From the intense analysis of the Castle of Avigliana over the past processes (Studio and USP Thesis), I was able to develop a more critical approach and make an intervention that would impact positively the archaeological site and the surroundings (Avigliana city and Susa Valley), but without disrespecting the history of the place.

The idea was to communicate directly with the ruins with an architecture that would also have meaning, strength and would be used by the tourists and local population.

Having the professor Alessandro Rocca as supervisor along this design process was essential, in order to develop the site-specific architectural language, suitable techniques, technologies, communication with the new and the old.

The final result is a reconstruction of an architecture of impact, a strong language, like once was the Castle of Avigliana

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PAVILION 1 - MUSEUM

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PAVILION 1 EXPOSITION + SERVICES

FIRST REVISION

PLAN LEVEL +434 1.200

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PAVILION 1 EXPO + SERVICES

LONGITUDINAL SECTION 1.50

TRANSVERSAL SECTION 1.50

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SECOND REVISION

PLAN LEVEL +434 1.200

NORTH ELEVATION 1.200

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WEST ELEVATION 1.200

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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

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THIRD REVISION

PLAN LEVEL +434 1.200

NORTH ELEVATION 1.200

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WEST ELEVATION 1.200

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WOOD CEILING

WOOOD BEAM (XLAM SYSTEM) 300x100mm

ROUND STEEL COLUMN Ø250mm

WOODEN BRISE SOLEIL SYSTEM

STEEL STAIRCASE

XLAM PANELS

CURTAIN WALL GLASS PANELS

AXONOMETRY

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ELEVATION 1.50

SECTION 1.50

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FOURTH REVISION

N PLAN LEVEL +434 1.50

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PAVILION WEST ELEVATION 1:50

PAVILION SECTION 1:50

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STRUCTURE WARM WOOD CEILING

STRUCTURE WOOD BEAM (GUGLAM SYSTEM) 500x100mm

STRUCTURE SQUARE WOOD COLUMN 300mm WITH INTERMEDIATE STEEL BRACING ON OUTSIDE COLUMNS

FAÇADE VERTICAL WOOD BRISE SOLEIL 40MM WITH INTERMEDIATE HORIZONTAL WOOD

FAÇADE CURTAIN WALL GLASS SYSTEM

PAVILION EAST ELEVATION 1:50

STRUCTURE WARM WOOD SLAB WITH INTEGRATED WOOD STAIRCASE

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FINAL DESIGN

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PAVILION 2 - OPEN THEATRE

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PAVILION 2 OPEN SQUARE + PATH

FIRST REVISION

PLAN LEVEL +436.7 1.200

SECTION 2-A 1.200

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SECTION 2-B 1.200

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PAVILION 2 OPEN SQUARE + PATH

LONGITUDINAL SECTION 1.50

TRANSVERSAL SECTION 1.50

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SECOND REVISION

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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

THIRD REVISION

PLAN LEVEL +440 1.200

LONGITUDINAL SECTION 1.200

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TRANSVERSAL SECTION 1.200

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WOOD CEILING

SECONDARY WOODEN BEAM SYSTEM

WOOD BEAM (XLAM SYSTEM) 300x100mm

ROUND STEEL COLUMN Ø250mm

ELEVATION 1.50 PLYWOOD SLAB

STEEL STAIRCASE

AXONOMETRY

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SECTION 1.50

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FOURTH REVISION

N PLAN LEVEL +440 1.50

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DRY PLYWOOD CEILING

WOOD BEAM (GUGLAM SYSTEM) 500x100mm

CABLE SYSTEM CONNECTED TO BEAM AND COLUMN SYSTEM

SQUARE WOOD COLUMN 300mm WITH INTERMEDIATE STEEL BRACING

SECTION 1:50

PLYWOOD SLAB WITH INTEGRATED WOOD STAIRCASE

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PAVILILON EAST ELEVATION 1:50

PAVILION NORTH ELEVATION 1:50

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FINAL DESIGN

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PAVILION 3 - BELVEDERE

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PAVILION 3 COFFEE + BELVEDERE

FIRST REVISION

PLAN LEVEL +442.5 1.200

SECTION 3-A 1.200

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SECTION 3-B 1.200

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PAVILION 3 COFFEE + BELVEDERE

TRANSVERSAL SECTION 1.50

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LONGITUDINAL SECTION 1.50

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SECOND REVISION

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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

209 208

THIRD REVISION

PLAN LEVEL +447 1.200

PLAN LEVEL +4403 1.200

EAST ELEVATION 1.200

210

PLAN LEVEL +450 1.200

SOUTH ELEVATION 1.200

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WOOD BEAM (XLAM SYSTEM) 300x100mm

SECOND FLOOR COFFEE + VIEW

WOOD BEAM (XLAM SYSTEM) 300x100mm

FIRST FLOOR COFFEE

WOOD BEAM (XLAM SYSTEM) 300x100mm

ROUND STEEL COLUMN Ø250mm

STEEL STAIRCASE

GLASS LIFT

AXONOMETRY

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ELEVATION 1.50

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SECTION 1.50

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N

FOURTH REVISION

N

PLAN LEVEL +440 1.50

PLAN LEVEL +443 1.50

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PAVILION SECTION 1:50

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N N

PLAN LEVEL +447 1.50

PLAN LEVEL +450 1.50

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PAVILILON EAST ELEVATION 1:50

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STRUCTURE

TOP FLOOR

COLD WOOD SLAB WITH GREEN ROOF MODULES

GREEN ROOF + VIEW

STRUCTURE WOOD BEAM (GUGLAM SYSTEM) 500x100mm

STRUCTURE COLD WOOD SLAB ON OPEN AREA AND WARM SLAB ON CLOSED AREA SECOND FLOOR MEET + VIEW

STRUCTURE WOOD BEAM (GUGLAM SYSTEM) 500x100mm

STRUCTURE COLD WOOD SLAB ON OPEN AREA AND WARM SLAB ON CLOSED AREA FIRST FLOOR COFFEE + VIEW STRUCTURE WOOD BEAM (GUGLAM SYSTEM) 500x100mm

STRUCTURE SQUARE WOOD COLUMN 300mm WITH INTERMEDIATE STEEL BRACING

VERTICAL CIRCULATION STEEL STAIRCASE STEEL + GLASS LIFT

GROUND FLOOR ACCESS + VIEW

FAÇADE VERTICAL WOOD BRISE SOLEIL 40MM WITH INTERMEDIATE HORIZONTAL WOOD STRUCTURE COLD PLYWOOD SLAB ELEVATION 1.50

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FINAL DESIGN

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REFERENCES

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SILENT PAVILION ARQUITECT_ Simon Ungers LOCATION_ No specific location FUNCTION_ Cathedral MATERIALS_ Steel

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SHELTER FOR ROMAN RUINS ARQUITECT_ Peter Zumthor LOCATION_ Graubünden, Switzerland FUNCTION_ Shelter for ruins MATERIALS_ Wood; steel

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CASA DE SUIZA ARQUITECT_ DELLEKAMP ARQUITECTOS LOCATION_ Alameda central, Ciudad de México, México FUNCTION_ Open theatre MATERIALS_ Wood; steel

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PERGOLADO BONDINHO ARQUITECT_ A+ Arquitetura LOCATION_ Rio de Janeiro, Brazil FUNCTION_ Open Square MATERIALS_ Wood; steel

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ZINC MINE MUSEUM ARQUITECT_ Peter Zumthor LOCATION_ Allmannajuvet zinc mines, Sauda, Norway FUNCTION_ Museum; Coffee; Services MATERIALS_ Wood; steel

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ACROPOLIS PATHWAY ARQUITECT_ Dimitris Pikionis LOCATION_ Athens, Greece FUNCTION_ Pathway MATERIALS_ Stones (variable)

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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AA.VV., I castelli della bassa valle di Susa tra IX e XV secolo: S.Mauro di Almese, Villardora, Avigliana, S. Ambrogio, Caprie, [coordinamento del progetto e revisione dei testi Paolo Denicolai, Ugo Gherner, Piero Del Vecchio]. Condorve: Editrice Morra, 1998.

PATRIA, Luca. Medioevo sul Pezzulano: documenti vecchi e “nuovi” per la storia di Avigliana.

Segusium, 2009.

VOLTERRANI, GIlibert. Valsusa com’era Tèra ‘d n’òstri vej. Susa: Ed. Delphius. Susa, 1977.

BRAYDA, Riccardo; RONDOLINO, F. Villarbasse: la sua torre, i suoi signori. Torino: C.E. Bertolero, 1886.

Websites

CAPELLO, Ezio. Avigliana: storia, personaggi, ricordi, immagini di uma città milenária. Grugliasco: Arti grafiche San Rocco, 1995.

ENRICHETTO, Martina. La Lettura di Avigliana Medioevale: e la sua verifica secondo la teoria del potenziamento visivo. Torino: Edizioni Quaderni di Studio, 1967.

FABRETTI, Ariodante. Scavi di Avigliana. Torino: Atti dela Società di Acheologia e Belle Arti per la Provincia di Torino, 1875.

FIRPO, L. Theatrum Sabaudiae: Teatro dagli stati del Duca di Savoia. Torino: Archivio storico della Città di Torino, 1984-1985.

Archdaily Associazione Archeologica Aviglianese. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/ AssociazioneArcheologicaAviglianese/ Città di Avigliana. Available at: https://www.comune.avigliana.to.it/ Maps.stamen.com Valle Susa Tesori. Available at: https://www.vallesusa-tesori.it/en/

GONIN, Enrico. Album delle principali castella feudali della Monarchia di Savoia. Torino: Doyen, 1845 - 1857.

LIEURE, J. Jacques Callot: Catalogue of the Graphic Work. Paris, 1927.

Livros │ Books NOTA, Marco. Il castello di Avigliana: indagine storica e ipotesi di riuso. Torino : Politecnico di Torino : Facoltà di Architettura, 2000.

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