We had the opportunity to work on a truly exceptional project: we restored three cantonment houses along State Road 51, nestled in the mountains of the Dolomites, to their original charm. Historic buildings located in Peajo in Vodo di Cadore, San Vito di Cadore and Acquabona in Cortina d’Ampezzo, all in areas under protection for their priceless cultural and landscape value.

These houses were once an integral part of the historic Via Regia, a road that connected central Europe to Venice. Built with solid stone and lime, wood-beam ceilings, we have endeavored to preserve as many elements as possible including larch floors wherever possible. Another key goal was to safeguard the unique style of these houses, maintaining the characteristic “Pompeian red” colors with white dolomite stone borders and the architectural details that set them apart.

In close collaboration with Anas officials and the Veneto Region’s Superintendence for Archaeological and Architectural Heritage, we opted for the least invasive approach possible, opting for the addition of wooden beams or planking. The specific technique we adopted was reinforcement by applying double cross planking, a solution that allowed us to maintain the aesthetic integrity of the buildings while significantly improving their strength.