The earthquake-damaged Aquila has a new concert hall from Piano

Rome - A ceremonial concert conducted by Claudio Abbado and attended by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano marked the opening of a new concert hall today in the Italian city of Aquila, which was damaged by a catastrophic earthquake three years ago. This was reported by the APA agency.
     The building with the concert hall was designed by the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano. The construction, costing 4.8 million euros, was partially funded by the province of Trentino-Alto Adige. The fir used in the building of the new cultural venue also comes from the Fiemme Valley.
     "It is the most beloved wood of the greatest violin maker of all time, Stradivari. Three parts of the concert hall are made of this wood: the concert hall, the rehearsal room, and the restaurant. I drew inspiration from many wooden buildings and temples that were created in Japan, which has been most affected by earthquakes in the world,” said Piano according to APA. A total of 1165 cubic meters of wood was used. The Genoese-born and renowned architect designed the building for free.
     The devastating earthquake in spring 2009 claimed the lives of 309 people. Even three years after the disaster, a large part of the historical center remains closed, while new satellite neighborhoods have emerged on the outskirts of the city.