Borgobello Puppet Theatre
Subscribe now to instantly view this image
Subscribe to the Architects’ Journal (AJ) for instant access to the AJ Buildings Library, an online database of nearly 2,000 exemplar buildings in photographs, plans, elevations and details.
Already a subscriber? Sign in
Theatre hall
Antonio Cibelli and Bernardo Corsetti Download Original
Renovation and conversion of a stable building from the nineteenth century into a theatre entirely dedicated to puppet shows
The Borgobello Puppet Theatre, the first of its kind in Italy, embodies the renovation and conversion of a former stable building that was part of the military headquarters once housed in the nearby former medieval monastery, into a theatre entirely dedicated to puppet shows.
The nineteenth century building, located in the ancient city centre of Perugia in the neighbourhood known as Borgobello, is located in between of the Basilica of San Domenico, Palazzo dell'Inquisizione and Parco di Santa Margherita.
From an urban perspective the project seeks to integrate this beautiful but forgotten space into the city’s vital network by introducing a new and unique function in a neighbourhood dominated by small restaurants, workshops etc.
Internally the linear shaped building is articulated into five parts: 1) foyer, wardrobe, ticket counter and toilets with its graphic and chromatic inserts on walls ceilings; 2) theatre hall with its original wooden truss roof and wooden upholstered chairs in four different colours (red, blue, yellow, green); 3) the stage, with its rust colour curtain; 4) a puppet exhibition hall with handcrafted masks and puppets; and 5) a didactic workshop area.
From an exterior design perspective a picturesque configuration was proposed which is contrasted only by the doors and "steles" in rusted steel and the walkway in exposed aggregate concrete with a central linear metal drainage.
Data
- Begun: Jun 2010
- Completed: Jun 2012
- Floor area: 300m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £234,000
- Funding: Municpality of Perugia, European Union
- Procurement: Public
- Address: Via del Castellano, Perugia, 06100, Italy
Professional Team 
- Architect: HOF
- Client: Comune di Perugia
- Structural engineer: HOF (Roberto Baliani), Francesco Guarino
- Mechanical Services Engineer: Comune di Perugia (Massimo Corbucci)
- Electrical engineer : Matteo Passeri
- Planning supervisor: Comune di Perugia (Luigi Pigliautile)
- Quantity surveyor: Comune di Perugia
- Building surveyor: Comune di Perugia (Angela Pollacci)
- Art Direction: HOF (Paolo Belardi, Carl Volckerts)
Suppliers
- Main contractor: Edilizia 3M
- Electrical services: CISE
- Mechanical services: Calderoni
- Theatre seating: Mandarini
- Architectural metal work: dueppi
- Fabric & Textiles: Coop. Atmo
- Graphics: totem