Senigallia Public Library

Senigallia Public Library is an in-depth analysis of a single project realized by Italian architects Massimo and Gabriella Carmassi in the historic center of Senigallia (located in the Marche region of Italy) to create the town’s library and archive. The renovation of this early nineteenth-century complex is an outstanding example of how the fabric of historic buildings can be used to make spectacular modern architecture. Rather than restore the buildings to some idealized original state and adapt them to a new purpose, the architects integrated existing pieces of the structures with new construction. The masterful use materials - metal, wood, concrete, glass, ancient brick - resulted in timeless spaces that have a unique combination of contemporary style and an appropriate reflective atmosphere. Echoing the architects’ creation, this handsomely produced book also uses a variety of materials - uncoated and coated paper stocks, vellum pages, and a sophisticated cloth jacket.

The book also includes an introduction by Richard Ingersoll that offers a complete description of the restoration.