The project, which won first place in the international competition for the new Theater at Montalto di Castro, was born with a dual aim: as a conceptual model for site “measuring” and,simultaneously, as an expression of the magical world of drama.

Montalto di Castro originated in the Etrurian period, the remains of wich are mainly made up of great masses of tuff; at the same time in collective italian immagination Montalto di Castro evokes the world of machinery that belongs to Italy’s greatest power station.

The project proposes a temporal shot circuit where the evolution of the territory is concentrated and expressed through a sole architectural moment: antiquity “versus” the esthetics of machinery.The new theater is a cement monolith characterized by chromatic and textural variations on wich the volume of the scenic tower seems to rest ethereally.

This volume is to be built in translucent polycarbonate that is dematerialized in the daylight, blending inwith the sky, while at night, as it lights up from within, it turns into a great “lantern”.

A new long travertine square leads to the entrance to the new teatre, wich features an imposing overhanging roof. Spectators areimmersed in a continuous space where the foyer and stalls flow freely into one another. The wooden walls create a space that is conceptually linked with excavations in the cement monolith.

The structure’s morphological heaviness is countered by the vibration of the material, wich seems to envelope the entire space in a great curtain, introducing the audience to a magical anticipation: the raising of the curtain.

In addition to the 400 seats of the theater, there are 500 seats set in an outdoor arena that can also enjoy the scenes on stage. 

photography © Pietro Savorelli

Project Facts

Planning:mdu architetti
Collaborators:Nicola Becagli, Michele Fiesoli
Consultants:civil enegeer / ACS ingegneri
Mechanical engeneer:ing. Federico Boragine
Quantity surveyor:A. Silvestri
Acustic engeneer:ing. Gianluca. Zoppi
Theatre scene:Roberto Cosi

Client:Montalto di Castro Municipality

Competition:1st prize 2004

Planning:2004 - 2005
Construction:2005 - 2011
Building cost:2.400.000 euro

Dimentions

Site area:10.888 m2

Built-up area:963 m2

Cubage:8.600 m3

Floor area:1.220 m2 

Theatre:for 400 seats
Open air arena:for 500 seats
Public square
Public park
Public parking:for 59 cars 

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