Project: Tholus

Architecture: Anama Studio

Location: Ponzano di Fermo, Italy (IT)

Year: 2025

Program: Temple

Surface: 300 m²

Status: Competition

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The structural system consists of two sets of arches operating in pure compression, whose geometry is derived through form-finding to achieve a funicular shape. Tensile cables and compression rings act in concert to ensure lateral stability and structural integrity by maintaining the shell in a state of equilibrium. The components are partially prefabricated and engineered for paired installation using a small crane. 

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The project rises from the will of congregation, a sanctuary that provides a space-enclosing envelope to embrace the community’s musical spirit. A double-arched shell hovers gently above the weathered ruins of the ancient temple, its form suspended between memory and renewal. Unlike the traditional dome archetype, the structure unfolds like a blossoming flower, extending horizontally to integrate with the surrounding landscape and serve as an echoing veil. It spans a floor area of 300 m2, with a diameter of 20 meters and an overall height of 11 meters.

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The intervention’s constructive character is articulated through its materiality, harmonizing with the existing light-toned chromatic palette of the stone structure. This approach preserves the temple’s invaluable heritage while introducing a contemporary framework that accommodates cultural and musical gatherings, breathing new life into the historic fabric and renewing its purpose for generations to come. 

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Project: Tholus

Architecture: Bigas Studio + Asama Studio

Location: Ponzano di Fermo, Italy (IT)

Year: 2025

Program: Temple

Surface: 300 m²

Status: Competition

.

The project rises from the will of congregation, a sanctuary that provides a space-enclosing envelope to embrace the community’s musical spirit. A double-arched shell hovers gently above the weathered ruins of the ancient temple, its form suspended between memory and renewal. Unlike the traditional dome archetype, the structure unfolds like a blossoming flower, extending horizontally to integrate with the surrounding landscape and serve as an echoing veil. It spans a floor area of 300 m2, with a diameter of 20 meters and an overall height of 11 meters.

.

.

.

.

The structural system consists of two sets of arches operating in pure compression, whose geometry is derived through form-finding to achieve a funicular shape. Tensile cables and compression rings act in concert to ensure lateral stability and structural integrity by maintaining the shell in a state of equilibrium. The components are partially prefabricated and engineered for paired installation using a small crane. 

.

.

.

.

.

The intervention’s constructive character is articulated through its materiality, harmonizing with the existing light-toned chromatic palette of the stone structure. This approach preserves the temple’s invaluable heritage while introducing a contemporary framework that accommodates cultural and musical gatherings, breathing new life into the historic fabric and renewing its purpose for generations to come. 

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