Morgnano Mining Museum

The exhibition design and curatorial project is part of the broader context of architectural restoration and industrial heritage valorisation, proposing a new exhibition path that respects the integrity of the pre-existing structure while introducing innovative solutions for the reuse of spaces. From the outset, the importance of this intervention lies in its ability to combine historical memory with the contemporary needs of museum engagement, enhancing the visitor experience through an updated and functional curatorial layout.

The Mining Museum, built on the old mining shaft of the Morgnano (Spoleto) mining complex, is a symbolic place of remembrance, not only for the historical importance of the work and its central role in the lignite mining system, but also for the tragic events in which it played a key role until the 1960s, leaving an indelible mark on the collective memory of the city of Spoleto. Today, the museum offers admission and a visit to the "SpoletoMiniere" exhibition, but it does not adequately display the collections of materials, artefacts and documents that have been preserved, due to a sparse and disorganised layout. The renovation of the interior, which includes the creation of a new exhibition route and an updated curatorial vision, is therefore essential to bring this important historical and cultural vessel back to life. The reinforced concrete structure, which was restored in the early 2000s, still manages to evoke the memory of a bygone era, of lives and hard-working individuals who contributed to the greatness of this country. As such, the design approach is implemented through a non-invasive gesture of respect for this precious 'container of memory'. The entire exhibition design is expressed in the relationship between the 'object' on display and the way it is presented to the public: the display, with its shape, creates a path, a space or a new vantage point between the floors of the museum. The study of materials, the use of the structure of the well as a compositional element of the space and the inclusion of a new independent volume make this project an example of innovative musealisation, which could be extended to other structures of the former mining plant, thus initiating a process of reuse and valorisation of abandoned spaces.