Casa delle Tradizioni: the evocative power of Simala’s ruins

Simala is a small farming village not far from the city of Oristano in central-western Sardinia. In its historic center, an urban regeneration project has breathed new life into a 19th-century building. Once the residence of a landowner, the structure has been transformed into a public exhibition space that both celebrates the beauty of the site’s ruins and underscores their symbolic significance.

The project, the work of Martino Picchedda, is a tangible testament to the relationship between past and future, demonstrating how a sensitive contemporary approach can transform historic buildings into catalysts for social and cultural regeneration.

Case delle Tradizioni: ruins that tell a story

Confronted with the complex and apparently static context of a structure overgrown with vegetation and enshrouded in the dust of time, Picchedda drew his inspiration from the visionary drawings of Piranesi and Alberto Burri’s expressive use of materials in Cretto di Gibellina.

More than just a practical phase of the project, the initial cleanup was informative, revealing the site’s hidden potential. It resulted in the ruins taking center stage in the final design, not just as remnants of the past but as elements that tell a story.

With their fragile but significant presence, the surviving walls took on a scenographic quality, acting as theatrical backdrops that define the new public square. The result is an open space that encourages community engagement, bridging the gap between the private and community realms.

A place to reconnect with roots

Originally part of a farm, the courtyard area has been transformed into a public square, reflecting an urban planning ethos that both respects and interprets history. With its clear focus on the materiality of the walls, which have been treated with eco-friendly lime-based plasters, Picchedda’s minimalist approach harmonizes with the existing architecture.

Likewise, the existing masonry has been cleaned and reinforced in such a way as to highlight its incompleteness rather than conceal it. Marked by the passing of time, the simplicity of these surfaces tells stories of daily life, work, and resilience. The space is therefore a metaphor for Sardinia itself as it embraces its roots to reinvent itself and welcomes the future without forgetting its past.

In the courtyard, the traditional basalt stone paving (impedrau) links the space to other historic courtyards, evoking a recognizable memory through touch and texture. Within the former home, the basalt has been laid on a permeable sub-base of fine aggregates, ensuring drainage and directing water to a network of pipes underneath.

Creating continuity with the past, sections of the old tellas stone paving have been reclaimed and reintegrated with the original materials.

A stage between art and landscape

The project’s philosophy is reflected in its essential nature, with a focus on materials, memory, and to the ability of the space to awaken shared sentiments. The result is a gathering place – a stage where past and present intertwine. Dedicated to promoting local products and slow tourism, the space aligns with the evolving economic and cultural dynamics of the region.

With this project, Simala has acted as a testing ground for local regeneration projects and a concrete example of how architecture can interpret memory to create a shared narrative.

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