Project Team
Temporary group of professionals:
Prof. Arch. Giuseppe Cristinelli. Consultant: Arch. Dario Giuseppe Maso
Description and Historical Background
The project involves the restoration of the pedestrian entrance staircase to Villa Mugna, a publicly owned building and the seat of the Municipal Offices of Lonigo.
The villa is located in the center of the Berici town, on a small hill corresponding to the western part of the Calmano Castle. The castle has medieval origins and has undergone several episodes of destruction and reconstruction. Some sections of its surrounding walls and three monumental towers from the Scaliger period still survive.
The current villa was built in 1909 on the site of a previous building, also called Villa Mugna, which may in turn have been constructed over remnants of older castle structures.
The staircase begins in Piazza IV Novembre, at the corner of Via G. Pontedera and Via Castelgiuncoli, southeast of Villa Mugna’s grounds. It is the only pedestrian-only access to the municipal building; two other vehicular routes exist at the northeast and southwest corners of the estate. The staircase overcomes a height difference of approximately 4.30 meters between Piazza IV Novembre and the villa’s park.
Although a secondary entrance, the staircase is the most direct pedestrian connection between Villa Mugna and other significant historical and monumental sites in Lonigo.
Dimensional Features
The staircase consists of a flight of twelve steps at the corner of Via Pontedera and Via Castelgiuncoli, a raised walkway running parallel to Via Pontedera with an average width of approximately 2.5 meters and a length of about 31 meters, and a second sloped walkway nearly perpendicular to the first. This latter segment is a narrow lane (“calle”) with an average width of about 3 meters and a length of around 17.5 meters, located between the buildings known as the former Gatekeeper’s House of Villa Mugna and Palazzo Cassia Calzavara.
The total area affected by the intervention is approximately 155 square meters.
Services Provided
Feasibility study (technical and economic), detailed and executive design, site investigations and surveys.
The assignment, currently ongoing, also includes construction management.
The Project
Design choices were made in accordance with the following criteria:
Consistency with the general guidelines of the Technical and Economic Feasibility Study;
Removal of incongruous and visually damaging additions, such as asphalt coverings;
Use of traditional materials and construction techniques to preserve (or restore) the authentic features of the staircase, referencing local building traditions and the specific character of the Villa Mugna complex;
Selection of materials and installation methods aimed at ensuring long-term durability of the work (see Technical Specifications).
As a restoration project that respects the original material, formal, and visual characteristics of the structure, the intervention fully complies with the landscape, regional, and urban planning regulations in force for the area.
Project Documentation
General and specialist reports, historical report, technical survey report, drawings and plans at 1:50 scale, construction details at scales 1:20, 1:10, and 1:5, price list, detailed cost estimate, technical specifications, contract draft.
Project Timeline
Technical and Economic Feasibility Study: 40 days
Detailed and Executive Design: 30 days
Construction Management
Construction site supervision is overseen by Prof. Arch. Giuseppe Cristinelli, acting as Site Manager.