L'Aquila Courthouse
| L'Aquila Courthouse | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Courthouse |
| Location | L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy |
| Coordinates | 42°21′15.51″N 13°23′22.1″E / 42.3543083°N 13.389472°E |
| Construction started | 1958 |
| Completed | 1962 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Enrico Lenti, Elio Piroddi, Renzo Sbriccoli, Emilio Tomassi |
The L'Aquila Courthouse (Italian: Palazzo di Giustizia dell'Aquila, lit. 'Palace of Justice of L'Aquila') is a judicial complex located on Via XX Settembre in L'Aquila, Italy.
History
[edit]The new courthouse of L'Aquila was built between 1958 and 1962. Its design was entrusted to engineers Enrico Lenti, Elio Piroddi, Renzo Sbriccoli, and Emilio Tomassi.[1][2] Until then, the Court of L'Aquila and the Court of Appeal were located inside the central Palazzo Margherita, which is now the seat of the Town Hall.[3]
In 2009, the building was severely damaged by the earthquake, rendering it unusable for several years. It was subsequently reopened after consolidation work and the demolition and reconstruction of some sections.[1][4]
Description
[edit]The courthouse is the central structure within a complex of public buildings situated between Via XX Settembre, Via Filomusi Guelfi, and Viale XXV Aprile, in an area bounded to the north by a remaining section of the ancient city walls.[1][5]
It consists of two main blocks: a square-shaped structure on the west side and a long rectangular wing at the rear.[1][4][5] The load-bearing structure is made of reinforced concrete, featuring an exposed frame with prefabricated panel infills, topped with simple pavilion-style roofs covered with tiles.[5] The rear section, constructed after the earthquake, has different characteristics from the central core.[1]
According to Marulli (2019), the building's composite structure "may appear disconnected, but it is unified internally through large glass windows and connecting ramps".[4] The new wing "has a less static appearance, and its architectural expression reflects contemporary design, incorporating advanced technological solutions aimed at energy efficiency".[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Palazzo di Giustizia". Censimento architetture contemporanee. Ministero della cultura. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ "Palazzo di Giustizia, progetti". L'architettura cronache e storia. Vol. 5. Venice. 1960. p. 142.
- ^ "Palazzo Margherita: la storia dell'edificio simbolo del potere". News Town. 11 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Marulli, Paola (2019). "Nuove Dimensioni. L'Aquila guarda alla contemporaneità anche negli edifici di recente costruzione". D'Abruzzo. No. 125. Ortona. pp. 16–23.
- ^ a b c Caterina Palestini; Carlo Pozzi, eds. (2013). L'architettura in Abruzzo e Molise dal 1945 ad oggi. Selezione delle opere di rilevante interesse storico-artistico. Rome: Gangemi. pp. 72–73.
Sources
[edit]- "Palazzo di Giustizia, progetti". L'architettura cronache e storia. Vol. 5. Venice. 1960. p. 142.
- Marulli, Paola (2019). "Nuove Dimensioni. L'Aquila guarda alla contemporaneità anche negli edifici di recente costruzione". D'Abruzzo. No. 125. Ortona. pp. 16–23.
- Caterina Palestini; Carlo Pozzi, eds. (2013). L'architettura in Abruzzo e Molise dal 1945 ad oggi. Selezione delle opere di rilevante interesse storico-artistico. Rome: Gangemi. pp. 72–73.
External links
[edit]- "Tribunale dell'Aquila". Ministero della giustizia.
- "Palazzo di Giustizia". Censimento architetture contemporanee. Ministero della cultura. Retrieved 4 September 2025.