After a thorough renovation project begun in April, the Dettori classical high school in Cagliari is ready to celebrate its 160th anniversary with the inauguration of the renovated Antonio Gramsci lecture hall . The event will begin on Thursday, November 13th, at 9:00 a.m., with a welcoming ceremony. Among the institutional figures present are Ilaria Portas, Regional Councilor for Education , and Lucas Raggio and Raffaele Dessì , the student representatives.
Headmistress Monica Ruggiu stated: "The Aula Magna, with its new look, returns to being the beating heart of Dettori. It's not just a building, but a symbol of belonging projected into the future. We want it to be a place of discussion and growth, where our students can cultivate curiosity, criticism, and freedom of thought, continuing the great tradition of our high school, a 160-year-old benchmark for the dissemination of classical knowledge and the building of an informed and active citizenry."
The project, overseen by Dmc_architetti , with significant support from the Metropolitan City of Cagliari's technical staff, has restored to the school community and the city a space that combines memory, full accessibility, and cutting-edge technology. The project's primary goal was to make the auditorium a functional, accessible, and technologically up-to-date space, capable of seating up to 350 people.
The new project sought to preserve historic elements, such as the burgundy wall at the entrance, while complementing them with contemporary elements. Among the most significant interventions are the removal of architectural barriers, the addition of permanent seating, and the creation of a multifunctional stage, designed for a variety of events, from official ceremonies to theatrical and musical performances. The selection of materials—oak and resin—along with the seamless integration of the new audio, video, and lighting systems ensure versatility, energy efficiency, and a pleasant experience of the space. The end result is a modernized space that retains its original characteristics: a symbol of belonging and openness, ready to become a hub for education, art, and community.
The profound ethical value of architecture as a means of restoring meaning is expressed in the words of designer Teresa De Montìs, owner of Studio Dmc_architetti and a former high school student who led the project: "I felt great joy in preserving and reviving a place familiar to me, where I don't just see walls, stairs, and corridors, but rediscover, in my memory, faces, voices, and laughter. Feeling useful, being able to restore beauty and meaning, is an immense privilege. Bringing to light what time has hidden, adding without erasing, repairing without pretending nothing has happened: this, in short, is the spirit of the entire project." The inauguration therefore represents not only the end of a construction project, but also a moment of cultural rebirth, offering a new hub for education, art, and the city community.
