The Development of the Projects for Villetta Di Negro

Abstract

The contribution analyses the various projects of the Villetta Di Negro Park, starting from 1800 until the present day. Originally, the first construction dates back to 1802 with Villa Di Negro, designed by the architect Carlo Barabino and destroyed during the Second World War. The reconstruction involved the creation of a museum to replace the Villa: The Edoardo Chiossone Museum of Oriental Art. The works began in 1948 and were entrusted to the architect Mario Labò; the project was radically modified between 1952 and 1955. The current building dates back to 1971 and, albeit with some changes, reflects the spatial idea defined by Labò. The different phases of the project will be analyzed and compared to the current museum, furthermore, the links between the second version of the building and its history will be highlighted, revealing the close connection to the nineteenth century project. The analysis of archival data has made it possible to deepen the theme of the destroyed or never built architecture, and to identify communication possibili-ties within the museum context for a wider audience. The text shows the possi-ble applications in the field of Augmented Reality with the intention of focusing attention on the architectural project and its spatial characteristics, rather than considering the qualities of the exhibition apparatus present inside the Museum. Augmented Reality is thus considered an opportunity to enrich the museum and the exploration experience of the Villetta Di Negro Park, showing people the complex history that has characterized an important place for the population of the city and which is often little known.