[A] Matrix

A Matrix of Reconstruction for Amatrice

After an introduction to the earthquake, its relation with the city in three different periods of before, during and after the catastrophe and all the required action for responding to this catastrophe through lectures and discussions, the process of designing the master plan, divided into following phases:

0 Pre-Phase | Atlas of Earthquake
1 Phase One | Manifesto
2 Phase Two | Territorial Strategies
3 Phase Three | AMatrix

Through an individual investigation, students studied the historical background of their country of origin related to the earthquake. As a result, an Atlas of Earthquake produced in which various urban and architectural strategies were applied.

In this case, the earthquake of Rudbar, Iran (1990) was analyzed and presented through mappings, drawings, and diagrams.

1.Amatrice Characterized By Its People
Some specific characteristics of the city are readable only through social networks and conventions. Considering these aspects helps to re-define Amatrice on the basis of its own personality.
2.Amatrice As a Self-Oriented Network
Micro-events are one of the crucial aspects of a living city and Amatrice is not an exception. Considering different zones which are gone after the earthquake and re-creating them can be an approach toward Nuova Amatrice.
3.Amatrice As Part of a Whole
Each city in the crater plays the role of a junction, connecting other neighboring cities to each other. Old hierarchies between municipalities must be balanced by the new system of connections, both cultural and physical.
4.The Destruction of The Collective Memory
Old reminiscences and lifestyles can’t be proposed again exactly as they were: collective memories and social life have to be reinterpreted in order to create the substratum of a city that can guarantee continuity both with its past and with its future.
6.Amatrice As a Living Creature
Amatrice, like other cities, has its own characteristics which make it be differentiated.
Amatrice is growing. Even after the earthquake the city, and so their people, re-created and are re-creating themselves. Amatrice is a living creature.

By analyzing the situation of cities in the region from the agricultural, touristic, educational, etc. point of view, led to understanding the strategic location of Amatrice. While most of the populated cities with the active economy are located on the edge of the territory and create a high-density belt around the crater, Amatrice is located in the middle where a strong network of connections with different cities meet which turns Amatrice into an important junction.

Amatrice is considered as a whole with its fractions, that are small production centers equipped with the main services, but with some fundamental services, such as schools or hospitals, in Amatrice city center. The strategy concerning fractions can be divided into four phases.

Reducing The Numbers of Fractions

Moving people from the biggest fractions to Amatrice and from the most damaged fractions to the biggest ones

Increasing The Number of Activities

Improve services in each fraction

Improving Connections

Providing bus routes in the main fractions linked to the existing
cultural path

Giving a Reference Point To Amatrice

Adding shops, exposition areas, and laboratories
in the smart center

$fraction$

Due to the high level of damages in the historical center, an organizer was required to control the design process for this big urban void. In this regard, the average dimension of one urban block derived from the previous master plan of Amatrice. Considering a grid of 25m in 25m blocks and keeping four important urban elements, including three churches and the main plaza with the tower, as attractive nods were next steps. Highlighting the importance of main accesses to these four nods and increasing the proportion of greenery (urban parks which serve different neighborhoods) came shortly afterward.