M. Sironi Academy of Fine Arts by LERUA Studio — A Contemporary Cultural Landmark in Sassari

Located in the heart of Sassari, Italy, the redevelopment of the Mario Sironi Academy of Fine Arts by LERUA Studio Associato di Architettura stands as a renewed symbol of architectural clarity, civic identity, and educational innovation. Completed in 2025, the 1,888 m² project transforms an existing urban complex into a welcoming, permeable, and community-focused campus, strengthening the relationship between the academy and the city.

This is not a simple restoration — it is a strategic cultural and spatial reactivation. LERUA Studio carefully redefines building volumes, circulation networks, and public areas to create a cohesive, accessible, and future-ready academic hub, blending historic respect with contemporary clarity.

Reinterpreting Existing Architecture in a Contemporary Key

The project integrates multiple pre-existing buildings and an undefined open courtyard into a unified architectural system. Through subtle interventions, material coherence, and a renewed spatial hierarchy, the design enhances the legibility and character of the academy.

Key moves include:

• Facade restoration to recover historic identity
• New window systems improving natural light and thermal comfort
• Upgraded technical and mechanical systems for sustainability and energy efficiency
• Reconfigured interior circulation strengthening visual and functional connections

LERUA Studio prioritizes open, fluid, and light-filled spaces, elevating the user experience while honoring the site’s cultural legacy.

The Former Medical Clinic: From Closed Structure to Civic Interior

A central component of the transformation is the redesign of the former medical facility. Once introverted and isolated, it now functions as a dynamic vertical space defined by double-height volumes, reception areas, collaborative workspaces, and communal zones.

The intervention transforms the building into a living cultural organism — a place where verticality, transparency, and spatial rhythm encourage interaction, creativity, and collective learning.

Engraving Pavilion: A Contemporary Architectural Dialogue

Adjacent to the historic structures, the Engraving Pavilion expands through the introduction of a new brick-red volume. The addition:

• Respects contextual geometries and materials
• Expresses a confident contemporary identity
• Maintains chromatic harmony while declaring its era

Rather than mimicry, the approach emphasizes architectural continuity through contrast, showcasing how heritage and new design can coexist gracefully.

Courtyards & Landscapes as Cultural Connectors

Outdoor spaces play a vital role in redefining the Academy’s urban presence. A network of pathways, themed gardens, and landscaped study areas blurs the line between university and city, offering:

• Areas for rest, meeting, and creative exchange
• Green pockets encouraging reflection and outdoor learning
• Public permeability that strengthens the Academy’s civic role

Nature becomes a design tool, enhancing porosity, human scale, and environmental well-being.

A Model for Cultural and Educational Redevelopment

With a balanced architectural language, sensitive material palette, and commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and collective value, the new M. Sironi Academy of Fine Arts sets a benchmark for urban academic regeneration in Italy.

LERUA Studio’s intervention demonstrates how existing buildings can evolve into timeless, socially engaged, and inspiring cultural environments — where history and contemporary life meet, and where the city and its creative community grow together.

Project Details

All photographs are works of Aldo Amoretti