Gangi is a small village in Sicily, Italy, located about 60 minutes inland from the north Mediterranean shores of the island, and roughly counting 7,000 capita. During a first, investigative research trip, AJR explored the potential to re-transform deteriorated, traditional tower houses, which were left by their owners for decades, back into occupyable space. The overall goal of such intervention will be to create a resilient case study example to revitalize villages on the decline, which is a common phenomena among mountain villages in Italy and other places around the world.

The houses available for purchase by Gangi's municipal office are in different stages of disrepair - from the necessity to rebuild and additionally support the original structural components, replacing non-existing roofs and interior floors on the lower end, to simple renovation works, interior painting and furnishing on the higher end. Any work done on these buildings become a forensic exploration of layers of history buried in the solid structures, as such work challenges the designer additionally with a vertical, 4-5 story layout of single rooms connected through a small corner staircase. As it is the case with many such old structures, the ground floor was often dedicated to live stock, requiring a re-thinking of such 'entry spaces' in a more contemporary sense. Working yourself up the staircase, one will be rewarded with breathtaking views to the south and into the adjacent mountains. Within a 60-90 minutes driving radius, Gangi offers all-year activities such as hiking, mountain biking, skiing and swimming in the Mediterranean, as well as an international connection via its airport Falcone–Borsellino.

With Gangi's central location on the island of Sicily, it enables visitors to explore important historic landmarks and places such as the Valley of Temples near Agrigento, the Etna, Taormina, Catania, Céfalu, and certainly Palermo within a 90 minute drive. The village provides their permanent dwellers with all amenities necessary for a normal daily life, including a small cultural center that was recently constructed within a historic structure in the center of the village.

Project Blackboard: 

Development anticipated: 2019 - 2022

Building size: approx. 1,500 SF

Lot size: 600 SF

Direct construction cost goal: $50,000

Design adapted to regional climate, solid stone construction, concrete, wood, double pane windows

Development and Architecture: Atelier Jörg Rügemer

Client: Jörg Rügemer

Photo credits: Atelier Jörg Rügemer