Adaptive Reuse and Energy Retrofit of a Historic Villa in Bologna

This thesis presents a conservation and adaptive reuse project for an 18th-century villa located at 134 Viale Aldini, just outside Bologna’s historic walls. While the exterior has remained largely unaltered over the centuries, the project reorganizes the interior spaces to accommodate new functions while preserving the building's architectural identity. The proposed layout divides the building into public and private zones: the ground floor is transformed into a multifunctional food and wine space featuring a restaurant, cooking classes, and a wine-tasting area, while the first floor and attic serve as the owner's private residence. To enhance energy performance without compromising heritage values, an assessment was conducted using Edilclima to evaluate various insulation strategies. Rather than replacing the historic window frames, which would disrupt the building's appearance, the existing glazing was upgraded to low-emissivity glass. Ultimately, the project successfully balances contemporary functional requirements, heritage preservation, and improved energy efficiency.