Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1
Title
Architectural Identity and ReuseThe Benedictine Church Case Study in Piacenza
Author(s)
Francesco Leoni, Rebecca Fascia, Livio Pinto
Affiliation
Department of Architecture and Design (DAD), Politecnico di Torino
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA)
Politecnico di Milano
DOI
https://doi.org/10.65686/EGWZ8389
Keywords
Benedictine Church of Piacenza, Digital Reconstruction, Museum and Auditorium Use
PP
581-588
How to Cite
Leoni, Francesco, Rebecca Fascia, Livio Pinto. “Architectural Identity and Reuse The Benedictine Church Case Study in Piacenza.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 581–588. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.
Abstract
It is undeniable that the architectural character of a building greatly influences its reuse, particularly from a social and representational point of view, in terms of the Forma Urbis. The case study presented here examines the specific situation of the 17th-century Church of the Benedictine Nuns in Piacenza consecrated on August 31, 1681. Piacenza also represents a paradigmatic context for the specific issue of reusing deconsecrated and repurposed religious buildings, offering numerous examples in this regard.
The Benedictine order left the site in 1810, after which the property was taken over by the State: the monastery was converted into a military barracks, while the Church was used as a warehouse. In 2007, the Ministry of Defense decommissioned the entire complex from governmental use. The historical and architectural significance of the structure is highlighted both by its heritage protection status, and by the granting of a use concession by the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the Provinces of Parma and Piacenza. The Church, owned by the State Property Agency (Demanio), remains unused, and the complex is currently the subject of research and investigation aimed at identifying a new destination for predominantly public use.
Edited by
Andrea Crudeli
Francesca Molle
Emanuele Carrai
Publisher
STH Press, Firenze
ISBN Paperback – 9791281661141
ISBN Ebook – 9791281661158
DOI – https://doi.org/10.65686/SISY7263
Year
2026
Proceedings of
International Conference on Adaptive Reuse
hosted by The University of Pisa, Italy
15-19 September 2025, at the Gispoteca di Arte Antica dell’Università di Pisa.