Waterpower – Renewal strategy for the Mulini Valley, near Amalfi, Italy

Set in the picturesque slopes of the Mulini Valley in Amalfi, Italy, the scheme is comprised of a collection of discrete interventions that form a unified ensemble. The overall objective is to provide a new lease on life for the region. Proposed is an ambitious effort to reanimate the landscape as well as a series of preindustrial water mills that are currently in a state of decay and thus threatened by collapse. The scheme calls for a full renovation of these structures as well as their integration into a system of modernized waterfalls, pools, and irrigation channels. In sum these measures serve not only to generate hydro-power, but also work to improve biodiversity. An additional merit of the work needs to be mentioned – a much needed revitalization of the socioeconomic condition of the region plays a central part of the development. All this is achieved through the medium of architecture that pays respect to both the heritage of the context while expressing a contemporary sensibility.