Jesuit College Campus

Renovation of the old dormitory

The Baroque complex, whose construction was begun in 1667 by Giovanni Domenico Orsi and completed around 1750—after his death—by Carlo Lurago, is a unique cultural monument protected by UNESCO. The renovation project began in 2009 with an architectural study covering all buildings and outdoor areas. We developed a conceptual design and significantly influenced the originally planned use of the complex as a bus turnaround and large parking lot, for which we managed to find an alternative location. We were commissioned to design several buildings and part of the outdoor areas. At the start of construction, the site was devastated by the presence of troops during World War II and subsequently by military use during the communist era. Historically valuable elements were thus hidden under layers of concrete, and only fragments of the original features remained.

From the very beginning, we strove for a renovation that was as unobtrusive as possible. We highlighted the age of the building and its individual components as a strength, viewing the various materials and historical elements as witnesses and keepers of the past. Above all, we avoided modern construction systems; we wanted to restore everything as it was built 200 years ago: solid wooden floors made of wide planks, forged nails, hand-blown glass in the windows, Baroque moldings, and hand-forged window hardware. Even with new elements in contemporary design, their essence and craftsmanship are just as timeless as those of the original elements. That is why, for example, in the attic, laths and jute fabric are used instead of drywall, and natural steel and glass are prioritized in all new elements.