In the green valleys between the municipalities of Orvinio and Pozzaglia Sabina, the Benedictine Abbey of S. Maria del Piano rests amidst the tranquillity of nature. The complex, currently in a state of abandonment, dates back to the 11th century, although according to an ancient legend it was erected by Charlemagne in the 8th or 9th century. Despite the passage of time and various changes, the church and bell tower remain clearly visible from its construction. Between the walls, one can discern bare materials, carvings and closed arcades as well as pieces of frescoes among the vegetation.
The abbey grew in importance in the 12th century and was restored at the beginning of the following century; then decadence began. Towards the end of the Middle Ages it was abandoned by the monks. The ninth edition of the cultural project Reuse Italy launched an international architecture competition on the reuse of the Abbey of S. Maria del Piano (Pozzaglia Sabina, Rieti).
The competition invites architects, engineers and students to reimagine the abbey as a meditation centre surrounded by nature. The deadline is January 16th, 2025. It is requested to submit one A1 sheet (59.4×84 cm). The total prizes are 4000 Euro. The submitted projects will be displayed at an exhibition in spring 2025, and the winners will be invited to explain their projects to the citizenry. The international Jury members are Sergio Sebastian, Markus Scherer and Jun Igarashi.
Is it possible to reuse a medieval Abbey?
The answer to this question is in the hands of the architects, the engineers, and the students who will participate in this competition.
