Udine - Two Reconstruction Methods

Post-earthquake towns, 21st -22nd August

The Udine Province of Italy suffered an earthquake in 1976 which affected several of the towns and villages in the area. I visited two places which have taken dramatically different approaches to the reconstruction of their built fabric.

In Venzone, the earthquake in 1976 - in fact a series of 'quakes which lasted several days - almost entirely flattened this small mountain town. Post-earthquake photographs show that every building was affected, with roughly 90% ruined or destroyed completely. However, walking around this village it would be easy to believe it had escaped the earthquake completely. The buildings, streets, city walls, and so on, have been rebuilt so diligently and with such attention to detail that only their slightly 'clean' and polished appearance might give them away as more recent constructions. Of course, if you look closer you can see that some modern details have crept in, such as improved glazing and modern security and technology; these are subtly done, and the overall impression of the city is medieval. But there is only one place in the town where you are boldly reminded of the 'quake (that is, if you choose not to visit the museum which commemorates the event); one church was not rebuilt and the ruined shell of the facade still stands amongst the stones where they fell. There was no explanation for the continued presence of this one ruin amongst the entirely reconstructed town.

To the south of Venzone is the comune Gemona del Friuli. The historic core is surrounded by characteristic Italian urban sprawl, particularly evident from the new piazza or viewing plaza which overlooks the comune (serving the dual function of covering extensive post-quake underground parking). Because a large amount of the urban sprawl did not exist at the time of the 'quake, my study was focused on the historic centre. Unlike Venzone, Gemona del Fruili did not chose to rebuild their town like for like - for the most part, anyway. A large number of buildings were demolished and modern buildings constructed in their places, typically of concrete construction. Generally, these tried to conform to the form and pattern of the buildings they replaced - but without much aesthetic success, and a lot of the towns character was lost in the process. This is again highlighted at the new piazza / parking area which is a vast desolate space. But there is also a sprinkling of reconstruction amongst the new builds; a few significant structures were saved demolition and, despite heavy damage, were rebuilt as they were pre-quake (such as the classical style church in the photos below).

The effect in Gemona del Friuli is a real mishmash of old and new throughout the town, unlike Venzone which has managed to retain its old character. I would question the reconstruction methods in both places as they have chosen to rebuild heavily damaged structures as they were pre-quake, thereby creating fake pastiches of a bygone era. Despite my doubts about this way of rebuilding, it would appear to be very successful in Venzone which is lively and beautiful. I can only think it was their avid attention to detail and widespread application of this method which makes Venzone a much more pleasing town than Gemona del Friuli, where the method was employed somewhat haphazardly.