The new university centre in Gemona dedicated to Cav. Lav. Marco Fantoni has been inaugurated
There are places that do not need to be reinvented, but rather listened to and returned to their own time. The renovated Palazzo Scarpa, inaugurated in Gemona, is one of them.
The purchase and restoration of the building, formerly home to the Banca Popolare di Gemona, were made possible thanks to a public–private partnership involving the Municipality, Fantoni Spa, the University of Udine, and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. The historic building thus comes back to life in the heart of Gemona, transforming into a cultural and educational center that symbolizes both post-earthquake rebirth and the city’s identity.
The University of Udine’s Department of Sports Science and Physical Education will find here its new home, dedicated to young people and knowledge, while other spaces will be open to the community, creating a place of gathering and culture for all.
The collaboration with the Municipality of Gemona, which chose to dedicate the palace to Cavaliere del Lavoro Marco Fantoni – member of the Board of the Banca Popolare di Gemona who suggested architect Carlo Scarpa for the reconstruction project – reflects our idea of enterprise: rooted in the territory, attentive to the culture of design, and committed to responsible transformation.
“In this building, a symbol of our community,” said Giovanni Fantoni, “our father made fundamental decisions, in the years when this Bank was a prestigious institution for the industrial development of the area.” Paolo Fantoni added: “From banking headquarters to a hub of education: this architecture, which speaks the Venetian language of Scarpa and Luciano Gemin, now takes on a new mission, offering infrastructure for the future and opportunities for younger generations.”