Dry Stone Walling Teaching Space

Alexander Barbe

This project, A Lasting Place, explores the intersection of architecture, cultural heritage, and community revitalisation. Rooted in the rich history of Mulazzo and its tradition of Italian craftsmanship—particularly dry stone walling—the proposal reimagines the town as a vibrant cultural and educational hub. At its heart is the design of a Visitor Centre that serves as both a learning space and an anchor for an interconnected network of restored structures throughout the town. Through a curated programme of workshops, exhibitions, and events, the project fosters craft-based regeneration, transforming underused spaces into thriving centres for artisans, students, and visitors alike.

Section cutting through visitor centre and piazza
Section cutting through visitor centre and piazza

The design addresses Mulazzo’s complex topography and fragmented circulation through thoughtful interventions: a new lift and vertical spine that enhances accessibility, a reimagined piazza that bridges the urban landscape, and corten steel structures that respect the site’s historic fabric while introducing contemporary elements. The massing and material palette are carefully composed to harmonise old and new, embedding a narrative of inclusivity, sustainability, and community engagement.

By weaving together adaptive reuse, environmental strategies, and accessible public infrastructure, A Lasting Place promotes a sustainable future for Mulazzo—one that celebrates heritage, empowers local craftspeople, and fosters social cohesion. The project illustrates how architecture can shape meaningful places, bridging past and present, tradition and innovation, and nurturing community pride. Ultimately, A Lasting Place aims to transform Mulazzo into a beacon of sustainable, craft-centred rural heritage.

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Gallery

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This section drawing illustrates the spatial arrangement within the Visitor Centre, highlighting dry stone wall teaching spaces, exhibition areas, and a central lift acting as a lightwell. It shows how new interventions—like corten elements—integrate with the historic stone architecture to improve circulation and accessibility across levels.
The south elevation drawings depict the relationship between the new corten structures and existing stone buildings. They illustrate how the design extends public spaces, bridges height differences, and introduces a new cultural layer while respecting the scale, texture, and materiality of the existing context.
These models present Mulazzo’s urban fabric and the proposed network of interventions—highlighted in red corten structures. The models showcase how new pathways, bridges, and structures stitch the town together, enhancing accessibility and connectivity while respecting the topography and historic character of the site.
These visualisations depict key public areas, including the lift entrance framed in corten and the reception space. They specifically aim to represent the atmosphere created by the stone and corten as well as indicate how the dilapidated structure is supported.

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