The contemporary reading of the ancient. Conservation/Critical interpretation

Stefano D’Avino

The contribution will deal with the restoration of the remains of the archaeological area of the so-called Villa of Pompeo (I century b.C.), in the municipality of Ladispoli (Rome), and its protection.

The restoration of an archaeological site, due to its extreme material fragmentation, is a very complex problem; in fact in architecture content and form tend to coincide therefore in these cases for reading/ interpretation must use design tools that allow a punctual suture of the fragmented architectural piece. Dealing with 'authentic' historical, artistic and material culture testimonies, the project is configured, by criteria and methods, to philology and critical edition of the texts; rejecting any temptation of restoration. It is necessary to design "for" archaeology and not "on" pre-existence (using ancient matter as a pretext.

The objective must be the protection of the monument, avoiding arbitrarily imaginative formal solutions. In terms of architectural invention, it is necessary to interpret the formal characteristics of pre-existence in relation to the inevitable impact that the intervention will produce in the archaeological and environmental context; without, however, renouncing its autonomous qualification. It will be advisable to adopt reversible solutions, that is easily removable in order to conform to any extensions of the excavation area.

In particular, the theme of archaeological coverings combines different practices such as restoration, conservation, architectural composition, archeology, landscape protection. The protection of archaeological remains requires an approach that must be, at the same time, technical (regarding the conservation needs and consequently the roofing structures, their materials and the static-constructive conception) and architectural, that is related to the relationship with the environment and the landscape, the criteria and design methods, accessibility and use.

What is essential is absolute respect for ancient archaeological remains in a perfect harmony of old and new: a contemporary project, but at the same time 'sensitive to history', that balances the needs of conservation and those of 'reading'.