In Nepi, in Tuscia Viterbese, there is an ancient farmhouse, the core of the redevelopment project. Nepi, indeed, has played an important historical role both in Roman and medieval times, having been the domain of the Borgia family first and then the Farnese family. An 18th-century Roman-style aqueduct is the backdrop for the project site. The site has a rich heritage of culture, Etruscan art, and unspoiled nature.

The first pictorial evidence of the farmhouse dates back to 1814. The area was known to artists because it was of interest for the Grand Tour itinerary, given the presence of an 18th-century Roman-style aqueduct connected to the ancient historical walls of the town of Nepi. The farmhouse was used for agricultural purposes and is developed on two floors: the upper floor housed residences, and the lower floor is a unique environment carved into the tuff. The family company acquired it in the early 1980s, but it was only in the early 2000s that the actual restoration began.

The “Polo Culturale L’Acquedotto” project will be the location for cultural events and an accredited training center in the Lazio region, aiming to become a true Cultural Hub of reference for the development of activities and collaborations that reflect the highly relevant and necessary values of sustainable development in all its different cultural, social, and economic aspects.

The strong cultural and landscape vocation of the site, combined with the desire to respect and deepen the themes of sustainable development, led to a project that aims to reflect these values through design and development choices, including the pursuit of the GBC Historic Building® protocol. The project is currently in the one-month phase. The entire process was aimed at respecting the values of restoration and landscape.

The work was carried out by the specialized company Edil Concordia Srl, under the careful supervision of the Superintendency. The design and material choices were based on optimizing performance and minimizing environmental impact. The ground floor features a unique environment entirely carved into the tuff, which still maintains the spatial and material characteristics of the ancient farmhouse. The recently expanded areas include service spaces for the main hall. The upper floor features a wooden structure roof, with ancient tiles and shingles; the surfaces have been treated with lime plaster, reproducing the original colors.

The excellent redevelopment of the “L’Acquedotto” Cultural Centre in Nepi, in the heart of Tuscia Viterbese, has transformed an abandoned site in a state of decay into a point of reference for the entire community, respecting the high energy and environmental standards defined by the GBC Italia certification protocols. The quality of the project earned the project the ‘Leadership in Design and Performance’ Award at the 2022 GBC Italia Awards. A one-of-a-kind intervention that has been able to maintain the current landscape scenography unchanged, while redeveloping the historic structures in a state of decay and subject to the constraints of the Superintendence. The optimization of energy efficiency and the lowest possible environmental impact are the two pillars of the project, keys to understanding the entire restoration.

The historic building, as it is subject to landscape constraints, does not allow to intervene from a technological point of view on the transmittance of the vertical and horizontal packages, effectively excluding the insertion of insulating elements on the historical material; For this reason, the design had a particular focus on energy systems, finding the most performative solutions regarding the choices for generation, distribution and terminal components. In addition, the interventions on the historical material were carried out by a company specialized in restoration that guaranteed the use of natural materials respecting the criteria of restoration and minimizing VOCs.

The building is bound by the superintendence and therefore it was not possible to insert any type of photovoltaic or solar thermal panel, the energy supply comes from 100% renewable sources and has been guaranteed by the manager through a specific contract. Compared to a standard historic building, energy savings of about 17% have been calculated.

Inside, VMC systems have been provided for the basement and the natural air cycle has been calculated based on the existing openings and the study of the winds. The use of natural materials for plastering and rinsing has led to a drastic reduction in VOCs in indoor environments. The double level of lighting guarantees not only a possible reduction in consumption but also an aesthetic enhancement of the rooms.

The building does not impact on the natural ecosystem of the surrounding land, on the contrary it has been well integrated for about two centuries and the goal is to continue to conserve and preserve it while ensuring the maintenance of the original landscape appearance. The GBC Historic Building certified project aims to maintain the current landscape scenography unchanged and to preserve it for the future; In addition, on the project site there is a historic aqueduct surrounded by a large green area, the goal of the project is to ensure the maintenance and allow the visit of the entire area to visitors who otherwise would not be able to use it.

Architectural Project: Eng. Gianmarco Concordia

Rating System: GBC Historic Building Protocol

Project Client: L’Acquedotto Srl

Specialized Restoration Contractor: Cer. Edil Concordia

LEED Responsible for the Client: Eng. Enrico Grillo – Sequas Ingegneria Srl

Sustainability Coordination Consulting: Eng. Claudia Galimberti

Commissioning Authority: Eng. Marco Monaco