The restoration of Palazzo Zaguri represents a carefully considered intervention aimed at recovering a deeply stratified historical building, respecting its identity and the transformations that have occurred over the centuries.
The goal was not to restore the palace to a single historical era, but to preserve its memory, making the dialogue between past and present legible.
When the recovery project began, Palazzo Zaguri showed clear signs of deterioration, due both to the natural passage of time and to the many changes of function it had undergone over the centuries: noble residence, collective dwelling, commercial headquarters, school building.
These transformations had affected the masonry, timber structures and interior surfaces, making a careful intervention necessary based on a thorough understanding of the building.
Prior to the operational intervention, the restoration was preceded by an articulated phase of investigations, surveys and monitoring, which were essential to understand the building’s construction and state of preservation.
This cognitive phase made it possible to set up a focused restoration plan that respected the original materials and traditional building techniques, avoiding invasive solutions or arbitrary reconstructions.
One of the guiding principles of the restoration was to respect the layering of eras.
Zaguri Palace was not “unified,” but allowed to speak through the traces left by its past.
Gothic brick masonry, partially removed plaster, fire-scorched walls, and surfaces left exposed now tell more than six centuries of history. The palace presents itself as a living organism, in which each intervention enters into dialogue with what came before it.
One of the most significant elements brought back to light through the restoration is the monumental staircase, the true backbone of the palace.
Rediscovered and enhanced, the staircase is more than just an architectural feature: it now serves as a narrative and spatial axis, guiding visitors along the museum route and creating an ideal connection between the different layers of the palace’s history.
The restoration work involved masonry and timber structures, roofing, foundations and stone elements, with the aim of ensuring the building’s functionality and safety while preserving its architectural legibility.
Every intervention was guided by the principle of preserving the building’s material authenticity of the building, prioritising consolidation and recovery over replacement.
Through this intervention, Palazzo Zaguri becomes an example of how restoration can be a tool for knowledge and transmission of memory. Every wall, every surface, every recovered element tells a story that is not erased, but made visible.
The building is not only preserved: it is lived in again.
