Widum in Jenesien

via Paese

39050

San Genesio, Italie

Owner

Curia di S. Genesio

User

Curia di S. Genesio

Contact Details

arch. Manuel Benedikter

Arch. Manuel Benedikter eGmbH | Srls

mb@benedikter.biz

Other Information

Visits
upon prior request

GENERAL INFORMATION RENOVATION PROCESS RETROFIT SOLUTIONS EVALUATION

Energy performance Primary Energy:
73 kWh/m2.y

Climate Zone F

Altitude 1000

HDD 4073

CDD 0

Protection level Listed

Conservation Area:
Oui

Level of Protection:
Historical City Center

Building age before 1600

Year of last renovation:
2021

Building use Residential (urban)

Building occupancy:
Permanently occupied

Building area Net floor area [m²]: 699,0

Building typology:
Detached house

Number of floors:
4

Basement yes/no:
Oui

Number of heated floors:
0

Gross floor area [m²]:
0,0

Thermal envelope area [m²]:
1228,0

Volume [m³]:
2510,0

NFA calculation method:
Useful area (it)

Construction type

Stone masonry wall

External finish:
Rendered

Internal finish:
Plastered (on hard)

Roof type:
Pitched roof

+ MORE - LESS

Pre-intervention, arch. Manuel benedikter

RENOVATION PROCESS

Architecture

BUILDING DESCRIPTION

The building in this project is the historic Widum of San Genesio Atesino, protected under heritage conservation and originally constructed during the XVII century. The intervention involves the restoration of the facades and the internal restructuring aimed at adapting the property to contemporary residential needs while restoring its original historic and monumental character. Additions from the 1970s are removed to emphasize historic architectural features. Internally, the design reorganizes spaces to create residential apartments, preserving the central corridor typology and strategically placing an elevator to respect the original layout. Modifications include the addition of symmetrical dormers in the attic. Facade colours and decorative elements will be determined in consultation with heritage authorities based on historical investigation.

State of repair

Conditions of the envelope

Before the intervention, the building was in a generally deteriorated condition, with facades affected by incongruent alterations mainly dating back to the 1970s, resulting in a loss of clarity of the original architectural features. The interior spaces were functionally and technically outdated, no longer meeting contemporary residential standards. Although the historic typological layout was still recognizable, the internal organization offered limited functional adaptability, and building components and finishes required restoration, refurbishment, and upgrading works.

HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

ELEMENTS WORTHY OF PRESERVATION

The building includes architectural and typological elements of historical and cultural significance that are worthy of preservation. In particular, the original volumetric and spatial layout, and the decorative architectural details characteristic of the construction period should be conserved. Furthermore, existing historic materials and finishes, as well as the central distribution layout, are considered essential features that define the building’s typological identity. These elements form an integral part of the property’s heritage value and provide a key reference for the restoration intervention.

Heritage Value Assesment

The building has a high cultural significance as a representative example of late 19th-century historicist architecture within the Alpine context of South Tyrol. Its architectural value lies in the clear volumetric articulation, façade composition, and decorative details that convey a monumental character. From an aesthetic perspective, the building makes a substantial contribution to the spatial and visual quality of the historic center of San Genesio, acting as a local landmark. Its social value is connected to the historic function of the Widum as a community-related building, while its integration into the historic urban fabric strengthens its relationship with the surrounding architectural and landscape context.

Aim of retrofit

Renovation

The aim of the retrofit is to preserve and enhance the building’s historical and architectural value while adapting it to contemporary functional, technical, and energy requirements. The intervention seeks to improve energy performance and indoor comfort, reducing energy demand and emissions in compliance with heritage protection constraints. Additional objectives include the functional reorganization of interior spaces, improved accessibility, and increased building durability, ensuring that new technological solutions remain compatible with the existing historic fabric.

Lessons learned

The retrofit highlighted the importance of an integrated heritage–energy approach, where energy efficiency measures must be carefully adapted to the constraints of a protected historic building. Key lessons include the need for early coordination between conservation authorities and energy design, the effectiveness of reversible and minimally invasive solutions (e.g. internal insulation strategies and upgraded building services), and the central role of accurate building geometry and thermal zoning in assessing energy performance. The project also demonstrated that significant comfort and efficiency improvements can be achieved without compromising architectural integrity, provided that material compatibility, moisture risks, and hygrothermal behavior are thoroughly evaluated from the early design stages.

Tools used

Was the renovation process done following a specific methodology? No

Energy calculation Klimahaus
Hygrothermal assessment Glaser (Relazione ex L.10)

RETROFIT SOLUTIONS

External Walls

Stone masonry

The intervention involved installing a variable-thickness internal insulating plaster based on perlite, applied to the stone masonry to improve thermal performance without altering the historic building’s exterior appearance. This solution reduced the wall U-value from 1.53 to 0.63 W/m²K while remaining compatible with conservation constraints.

The intervention is conservation-compatible because it is applied from the inside, avoiding any changes to façades and volume and preserving the building’s historic appearance. Moreover, using a mineral perlite-based insulating plaster is consistent with traditional substrates and supports a discreet, potentially reversible solution.

U-value (pre-intervention) [W/m2K]: 1,53 W/m²K U-value (post-intervention) [W/m2K]: 0,63 W/m²K

More Details

Original wall build-up

Plaster - Plaster:
50 mm

Stone - Stone Masonry:
600 mm

Plaster - Plaster:
50 mm

Retrofitted wall build-up

Plaster :
50mm

Stone :
600 mm

Plaster - Perlite-based plaster:
60 mm

Windows

Window

The original historic window was retained and integrated into a “double-layer” solution: traditional external shutters remain in place, while a secondary timber-framed inner window was added on the inside to improve performance without changing the exterior appearance.

The external shutters were replaced and redone in the same style, the original window was retained, and another internal window frame was added, featuring modern performance and a subtle look.

Existing window U-value Glass [W/m2K]: 3,0 New window U-value Glass[W/m2K]: 1,0 Existing window U-value Frame [W/m2K]: 3,0 New window U-value Frame [W/m2K]: 1,2

More Details

Existing window type	Double window
Existing glazing type	Single
Existing shading type	Outer shutter
Approximate installation year	2021

New window type	Casement window
New glazing type	Double
New shading type	Outer shutter
New window solar factor g [-]	0,05

Other interventions

ROOF

GROUND FLOOR

ROOF

The roof was thermally insulated by installing 19 cm of wood fiber insulation panels, significantly improving the energy performance of the building envelope while ensuring breathability and compatibility with the existing structure.

The roof intervention involved a full reconstruction of the roof, while keeping the original geometry and volume unchanged. Although the materials and build-up were replaced, the solution remains conservation-compatible because it does not alter façades or the roof silhouette and does not change the building’s external appearance; performance is upgraded while preserving architectural identity and the relationship with the historic context.

U-value (pre-intervention) [W/m2K] 1,34 U-value (post-intervention) [W/m2K] 0,23

More Details

Original roof build-up

Plaster - Plaster:
20 mm

Wood - Wood:
25 mm

Air gap - Air gap:
200 mm

Wood - Wood:
25 mm

Concrete - Concrete:
60 mm

Retrofitted roof build-up

Other - Gypsum board:
12 mm

Wood paneling - OSB:
18 mm

Insulation - Woodfiber:
160 mm

Wood paneling - Wood panel:
35 mm

GROUND FLOOR

Before the intervention, the ground-contact floor slab featured an insulating layer consisting of a 12 cm thick XPS (extruded polystyrene) panel, placed beneath the structural slab. The existing configuration provided a level of thermal insulation that was not fully optimized with respect to current energy efficiency requirements.

The intervention is compatible with building conservation requirements, as it does not alter load-bearing structures nor introduce visible changes to the existing architectural elements.

U-value (pre-intervention) [W/m2K] 2,64 U-value (post-intervention) [W/m2K] 0,25

More Details

Original groundfloor build-up

Concrete slab - Lightweight concrete:
200 mm

Concrete slab - Concrete:
60 mm

Finish - Tiles+Adhesive:
20 mm

Retrofitted groundfloor build-up

Other - Gravel:
80 mm

Insulation - XPS:
120 mm

Insulation - EPS:
10 mm

Concrete slab - Concrete:
50 mm

Finish - Tiles+Adesive:
15 mm

HVAC

HEATING

DOMESTIC HOT WATER

HEATING

As part of the building energy renovation, the heating system was converted to district heating, allowing the building to be integrated into a centralized heat production and distribution network.

All technical systems are located in a semi-basement technical room, with no interference with architectural elements and no impact on the building’s aesthetic appearance.

More Details

	New primary heating system
New system type	District Heating
Fuel	District Heating
Distribuition system	Radiators
Nominal power	40 kW

DOMESTIC HOT WATER

As part of the building energy renovation, the heating system was converted to district heating, allowing the building to be integrated into a centralized heat production and distribution network.

All technical systems are located in a semi-basement technical room, with no interference with architectural elements and no impact on the building’s aesthetic appearance.

More Details

	New DHW system
Type	District Heating
Hot_water_tank	No
With heat recovery	No

Energy Efficiency

Energy Performance

Energy performance certificate: Klimahaus
Voluntary certificates: No

Energy Use

Heating
Primary Energy 73 kWh/m2.y

Primary Energy
Consumption_estimation_Calculation_method: CasaClima
Consumption_estimation_Including_DHW: No
Consumption_estimation_After: 73 kWh/m2.y

Costs

Financial Aspects

approx. 1.800.000 euro

Investment Costs

Total investment costs
€ (total)

Running Costs

Lifecycle cost
No

Unfortunately, no approved project has been found yet