Ricerc@Sapienza

The church of San Nicola di Bari in Tivoli, with a single nave with opposing apses on the longitudinal axis and chapels contracted on the transversal one, fits into the context of the ecclesiastical architecture of the Counter-Reformation. Built by the Santo Spirito in Saxia in 1590 and flanked by a hospital, the church, after a period of neglect, was turned into a paper mill at the beginning of the 20th century. The industrial use of the building is evidenced by a reinforced concrete slab that divides the hall into two independent levels and inclined pillars inserted in the architectural order of the lower floor. Reflecting on a future re-use, the new function must be in line with the building's vocation, exhibition space and conference room, addressing the problem of changing routes. The area occupied by the hospital, now disappeared, is connected to the church and constitutes a vacuum potentially rich in design opportunities. The location of the church, close to the Temple of Hercules and the original entrance to Villa d'Este, suggests the organization of a historical-monumental itinerary on paper mills with a system of places of interest in the area.