Path to Paradiso – nestled in the medieval village of Mulazzo in Northern Tuscany. The village sits within the mountainous Lunigiana region, known for its network of castles and ongoing literary traditions, including the Montereggio Book Festival and its historic connection to Dante Alighieri, who stayed here during his exile.
This project transforms a dilapidated building on Mulazzo’s hillside into a literary retreat inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, guiding visitors through a three-phase architectural journey-a reflective pathway (Inferno), a communal café (Purgatorio), and a writing retreat (Paradiso)-each designed to foster introspection, creative exchange, and engagement with Mulazzo’s literary heritage.
The scheme explores themes of contemplation, sanctification, and transcendence through the orchestration of light. Materiality and form work in symbiosis, evolving the environment into a space that encourages reflection upon the passage of time. Procurement methods draw upon locally sourced limestone and alabaster from nearby quarries, grounding the design in its context while enabling the creation of ethereal spatial moments. Recognised for their expressive potential, these materials allow for the diffusion of light, fostering contrast and connection that enhance the sensory experience and underscore the scheme’s spiritual ambitions.
Gallery
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