Adaptation of the Castello di Gaeta castle by students of the Silesian University of Technology

w skrócie
Students at the Silesian University of Technology have designed the adaptation of the west wing of the Castello di Gaeta castle for educational purposes. Openwork galleries were introduced to separate the routes of tourists and students without interfering with the historic walls. A new ramp-like volume created a common space for learning and integration. The main courtyard was divided into recreational, leisure and cultural areas, enriching the function of the building. The project combines history and modernity, which was recognized at an international exhibition. For more interesting information, visit the home page of the AiB portal

w skrócie

Students at the Silesian University of Technology have designed the adaptation of the west wing of the Castello di Gaeta castle for educational purposes.
Openwork galleries were introduced to separate the routes of tourists and students without interfering with the historic walls.
A new ramp-like volume created a common space for learning and integration.
The main courtyard was divided into recreational, leisure and cultural areas, enriching the function of the building.
The project combines history and modernity, which was recognized at an international exhibition.
For more interesting information, visit the home page of the AiB portal

new life for the west wing of the castle

Castello di Gaeta is a place with a rich history, tracing back to the 6th century. It served as a fortress, later as a political prison, and today its eastern part houses the School of Navigation. The goal of the project was to adapt the west wing to accommodate the Cultural Heritage Department of the University of Cassino, UNICAS. The key challenge was to reconcile the educational and tourist functions, which required separating the routes of visitors and students without compromising the historic fabric of the building. A well-thought-out spatial layout made it possible to create a harmonious symbiosis of the two functions.

pre-design analyses

openwork galleries subtle interference in the historic structure

In the interest of minimal interference with the structure of the castle, an internal gallery surrounding the main courtyard was designed. Thanks to this solution, the routes of visitors and students separate already at the entrance stage. The structure of the gallery is lightweight and skeletal, which allows the original walls to be preserved unaltered. To further emphasize the building's history, the modern elements are made of corten sheet metal, a material whose rusty hue alludes to the castle's former prison bars.

cross sections

Also innovative are movable shading panels, resembling blinds, which allow to regulate the flow of light and provide natural ventilation of the interiors. The lower part of the gallery has been shielded by ropes, along which ivy will gradually climb, creating a natural microclimate. Special resting areas in shaded niches have also been provided, increasing the comfort of users, both students/students and tourists/tourists.

visualization of the student zone - added blocks

modern student space

The problem turned out to be the lack of common spaces, such as a reading room, cafeteria or meeting places. The answer was to expand the gallery in the western part of the courtyard. The new volume, designed in the form of a distinctive circular ramp, refers to the spiral staircase and defense towers. It is here that the heart of the new department will beat - a place for the exchange of ideas, integration and learning. In addition, the eastern wing of the castle has been allocated for dormitories, so that students can be constantly surrounded by their university. The proximity of the historic space fosters creative thinking and enables full immersion in the educational process.

visualization of the entrance area - this is where student and tourist traffic separates

The revitalization also included the rock-cut main courtyard, which gained new social and recreational functions. It has been divided into several zones. The stage with an auditorium is a space for academic and cultural events. The leisure zone is a shaded meeting place, surrounded by greenery, fostering an atmosphere of focus and relaxation. The recreation zone, equipped with game stations such as chess and boules, allows people to spend time actively. As a result, the courtyard has become not only a place of communication, but also a space of active academic life, pulsating with the energy of students/students and guests/guests.

visualization of the student cafeteria

a project that does not pretend to be history

"Castello degli studenti" does not try to imitate the old times or dominate the history of the castle. Each element of the new intervention has its own functional and aesthetic justification. Openwork galleries, modern materials and flexible spatial solutions allow the past and future to coexist harmoniously. The students' work resulted in the project's presentation at the prestigious Architecture & Landscape in Conservation Design: Cassino-Folcara and Gaeta exhibition in Lazio, highlighting its importance and value in the context of contemporary adaptive architecture. With this realization, Castello di Gaeta could be given a new identity that not only protects its rich past, but also opens it up to new generations of students and history enthusiasts.