A facelift for sustainability

In a project that marks a decisive step towards sustainability, the apartment building at 23 Via Giovanni di Vincenzo, in the western suburbs of the Abruzzo regional capital L’Aquila, underwent a major energy and seismic retrofit between 2021 and 2023. Led by architect Pietro Farinosi, the work was carried out by the construction and restoration firm Fratelli Ettore e Carlo Barattelli.

“The client wanted a certified system that would meet energy performance standards, improve the aesthetics of the severely deteriorated facades and ensure low maintenance costs over time,” explains Carlo Barattelli. The chosen solution, a ceramic ventilated façade system, offered clear advantages in terms of aesthetic impact, thermal insulation in both winter and summer due to the presence of the ventilated cavity, and low long-term maintenance. “Essentially, we gave the façade a facelift, using sustainable materials such as porcelain stoneware to modernise a typical 1970s 40-unit residential complex and transform it into a low-maintenance, energy-efficient building,” Barattelli continues.

For the ventilated façades, the architect selected Cerdisa’s Blackboard collection in the colours Mud and White, installed in a 60×120 cm size and a 9 mm thickness. The two colours used for the external volumes were alternated with small plaster-finish sections to maintain a light and well-balanced overall composition, an important consideration given the rectangular building’s 55-metre-long façade.

The window openings were further emphasised by the use of aluminium frames in contrasting colours. As the apartments remained occupied throughout the project, no interior renovations were undertaken. Along with functional and technical benefits, “our goal was to find a ceramic material that would give the façades a subtle material consistency”, explains Barattelli. “The three-dimensional texture of the Blackboard surface met this requirement, along with the range of available colours.” Summing up the project, Barattelli cited Vitruvius’ timeless architectural principles: Firmitas (solidity), Utilitas (functionality) and Venustas (aesthetic beauty).