Lessons From Norcia

How does an architect deal with the aftermath of an earthquake?

On October 30, 2016, the Madonna di Cascia Church in Norcia (Perugia) was reduced to rubble in the Central Italy earthquake.

Architect Paolo Belardi began creating his new project, "The Rubble Church" ("Chiesa delle Macerie").

"After an earthquake, it's not just places and spaces that need to be rebuilt, but identities as well."

The architect's path branches into three options: Rebuilding the destroyed structures "as they were, in their original location; rebuilding them neither in their original location nor as they were; rebuilding them in their original location but not as they were."

A new path emerged with the earthquake: "'Rebuilding with whatever is available, wherever it may be,' meaning rebuilding using the rubble."

"Learning from Las Vegas could very well have become Learning from Norcia."