The Punta of Guardia Lighthouse on Ponza Island: Project for Restoration

The lighthouse, an architecture landmark of the coasts around the world has been the subject of study, especially it focused on the drafting the restoration project of the Punta of Guardia lighthouse on the Ponza island, Italy. Ponza is an island which gives its name to the archipelago of the Pontine islands, located off the Lazio coast. The lighthouse in question is one of the most important signaling systems of medium-high Tyrrhenian, built on a sea stack 112 meters above sea level, at the end of 1800. As almost the totality of these structures, the lighthouse has been abandoned by the date of its automation, for about forty years. The study was accompanied by an historical research of the building, the execution metric and photographic surveys, the materials and construction techniques and as a result of analysis of the degradation and restoration work. All these operations were the prelude for the preparation of a project on the conservation of surfaces and the renovation of the structure, addressing mainly due to humidity problems in all its forms. Then, the restoration has had a conservative order and structure protection in order to strengthen its maritime signaling connotation. Everything preparatory to a reconversion of the touristic intended use, the island’s main vocation and to which the building is more likely for its geographical position of extraordinary charm, in full compliance with the soul of the lighthouse, a place that offers an open and flexible tourism type, a lighthouse accommodation, the strength of European tourism of recent years. The project is based on three key point: environment, culture and sustainability.