INTEGRATED
ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE

The restoration project of the building owned by the Civic Library of Cosenza includes seismic adaptation, energy efficiency improvements, restoration, and adaptive reuse through computerisation. These efforts aim to fully utilise and enhance an iconic structure for the city. Overlooking central Piazza, the headquarters of the Cosentina Academy and the Civic Library is an elegant neoclassical building constructed by the Municipality in the 1930s. Due to its historical significance, the building is subject to various constraints, particularly direct protection under the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the province of Cosenza (SABAP-CAL). It holds cultural importance recognised by law, specifically under Article 10 of Legislative Decree no. 42/2004. The design priorities focused on addressing structural deficiencies and improving seismic resistance, alongside resolving critical issues affecting the operational capabilities of the Civic Library and adjoining Academy. Energy-efficient solutions were implemented to reduce consumption and enhance the building envelope's efficiency, all while preserving its stylistic and historical peculiarities. The library's refunctionalisation involved a dual architectural approach: restoration of historically significant sections and modernisation of the overall architectural profile. Additionally, an economic plan for the library guided the valorisation of its important book heritage.