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Savona Courthouse

Coordinates: 44°18′22.9″N 8°28′38.9″E / 44.306361°N 8.477472°E / 44.306361; 8.477472
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Savona Courthouse
Map
General information
LocationSavona, Liguria, Italy
Coordinates44°18′22.9″N 8°28′38.9″E / 44.306361°N 8.477472°E / 44.306361; 8.477472
Construction started1981
CompletedAugust 1987[1]
Opening1992
Design and construction
Architect(s)Leonardo Ricci, Maria Grazia Dall'Erba

The Savona Courthouse (Italian: Palazzo di Giustizia di Savona, lit.'Palace of Justice of Savona') is a judicial complex located on Via XX Settembre in Savona, Italy.

The building, designed by architect Leonardo Ricci, is considered one of the most significant examples of modern architecture in Liguria.[2] It is appreciated for its bold and innovative volumes that stand out in the surrounding context, characterized by oblique lines, sharp edges, and large glass panels.[3][4]

It won the IN/Arch Award from the National Institute of Architecture in 1989.[5]

History

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The new courthouse in Savona was designed by architect Leonardo Ricci following a national competition organized by the Ministry of Justice in the 1950s.[6] However, the timeline was significantly extended, and the construction was only carried out in the 1980s.[6][7] During the design process, Ricci was assisted by architect Maria Grazia Dell'Erba.[6][7] The courthouse was inaugurated in 1992.[6]

Description

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The exposed reinforced concrete volumes intersect and overlap, giving the building a massive and monolithic appearance. The large glass windows, on the other hand, create a play of light and shadow that constantly changes, imparting a sense of dynamism to the building.[6] The structure is oriented to maximize natural lighting and features facades that are differently articulated according to the setting: an open front with glass facing the greenery and a more sculptural and symbolic side facing the city.[6][4]

The internal spaces revolve around the so-called "basilica", an open area that connects all functions and faces all offices and rooms. The main auditorium is separated from the main structure and is shaped as a semicircular body connected by covered walkways.[6][4]

References

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  1. ^ Vittorio Pizzigoni (2021). "Too Good to Be True: the Savona Courthouse". Histories of Postwar Architecture (9).
  2. ^ Giovanna Franco; Stefano Francesco Musso (2016). Architetture in Liguria dopo il 1945. Genoa: De Ferrari. p. 322.
  3. ^ Sergio Polano; Marco Mulazzani, eds. (1991). Guida all'architettura italiana del Novecento. Milano: Electa. pp. 304–305.
  4. ^ a b c Bruno Zevi (1996). "Palazzo di Giustizia, Savona, Italia". Zodiac (16): 156–159.
  5. ^ Fabio Fabbrizzi (2008). Opere e progetti di scuola fiorentina, 1968-2008. Florence: Alinea. p. 137.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Palazzo di Giustizia". Atlante architettura contemporanea. Ministero della cultura. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Palazzo di Giustizia". Censimento architetture contemporanee. Ministero della cultura. Retrieved 9 June 2025.

Sources

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  • Giovanna Franco; Stefano Francesco Musso (2016). Architetture in Liguria dopo il 1945. Genoa: De Ferrari. p. 322.
  • Vittorio Pizzigoni (2021). "Too Good to Be True: the Savona Courthouse". Histories of Postwar Architecture (9).
  • Sergio Polano; Marco Mulazzani, eds. (1991). Guida all'architettura italiana del Novecento. Milano: Electa. pp. 304–305.
  • Leonardo Ricci (1987). Il Palazzo di Giustizia di Savona. Florence: Centri Di.
  • Bruno Zevi (1996). "Palazzo di Giustizia, Savona, Italia". Zodiac (16): 156–159.
  • Bruno Zevi (1997). Storia e controstoria dell'architettura italiana. Rome: Newton & Compton.

See also

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