The international project ComPaRe addresses the urgent challenge of reconstructing historic city centers destroyed by natural disasters or human actions, with Accumoli in central Italy serving as its case study. Severely damaged by the earthquakes of 2016–2017, Accumoli lost significant parts of its medieval core, including the Torre Civica and the 12th-century Palazzo del Guasto. Building on this context, ComPaRe seeks to generate transnational awareness of heritage loss, to connect past, present, and future perspectives, and above all to work collaboratively on sustainable solutions through crowd-sourced data and civic engagement. Anchored in the “Scuola di Ricostruzione di Accumoli,” a facility equipped for teaching, research, and public dialogue, the project fosters exchange between local communities, authorities, and international experts. Its primary aim is to develop, test, and optimize trans-disciplinary teaching methods, didactic concepts, and research instruments for the holistic rebuilding of historic centers. Beyond physical reconstruction, the initiative addresses economic, social, and cultural dimensions, encouraging critical thinking about resilience and intercultural competencies. By producing study programs and a practical manual for designing such curricula, ComPaRe supports sustainable development, inclusive participation, and the preservation of cultural heritage, offering a model for European and international contexts alike.
Official website of the project: https://www.compare-erasmus.eu/
The ComPaRe project produced a wide spectrum of results that advance education, research, and practice in holistic post-disaster reconstruction. Alongside its three main intellectual outputs—which together define a new culture of rebuilding destroyed urban structures—the project also developed a multidimensional model of Accumoli, created by the team from the Faculty of Architecture and Design.
The multidimensional model of the Accumoli town serves as an interactive participatory tool that enables locals, stakeholders, and experts to strategize renewal and envision future scenarios. With variable physical representations of the town centre in both its present and pre-disaster states, the model provides a tangible platform for dialogue and decision-making. The strategies for reconstruction are projected directly onto the surface of the model, supported by virtual layers and markers for augmented and virtual reality.
Urban multidimensional model of Accumoli on which projections from above integrate virtual layers and AR/VR markers. Source: FAD STU, 2024
The case study in Accumoli demonstrates that such practical interactive tools can effectively educate the public about lost heritage as well as visions for the future. The methodology proves the potential of combining urban research, design strategies, and participatory processes into a coherent educational framework.
Example of interdisciplinary cooperation combined with onsite research and an Urban Walk. Source: FAD STU, 2024
Through mixed-media presentations and multi-sensorial experiences, traditional interpretations of heritage can be enriched with interactive virtual components. Users are able to navigate reconstructions by focusing on specific objects, which in turn control animations and immersive visualizations. This integrated approach deepens understanding of the topic, encourages exploration of potential solutions, and reveals broader social and cultural impacts.
The reception of these case study has been overwhelmingly positive among students, educators, local stakeholders, and the public. Such acceptance highlights the potential of multidimensional modelling not only as an educational instrument but also as a driver of future development, particularly in relation to cultural and industrial heritage. The method’s ability to open new opportunities and engage diverse audiences represents one of its most significant contributions to sustainable reconstruction practice.
The Knowledge Basis for Transdisciplinary Education (IO1) established the methodological foundation of the project. Using Accumoli, Italy, as a central case study, the project team combined historical research, community narratives, and advanced digital documentation methods such as drone photogrammetry and laser scanning. This work not only generated technical guidance for urban and architectural reconstruction but also preserved intangible heritage, community memory, and identity. The knowledge developed here became the basis for subsequent curricula and tools.
The Educational Programme on Complex Participatory Reconstruction (IO2) translated these findings into a structured curriculum for higher education. Flexible and modular in design, the program integrates key themes including cultural heritage preservation, participatory planning, sustainable urban development, and the use of digital tools such as 3D/BIM modeling and VR/AR. Piloted at partner universities in Italy, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, the curriculum was tested in real-life contexts like Accumoli Town and Village of Hrušky. Student feedback confirmed its relevance and capacity to prepare future professionals for complex reconstruction challenges.
The project’s final intellectual output, the ComPaRe Manual for a Holistic Approach to Reconstruction (IO3), synthesizes interdisciplinary methods, case study insights, and pedagogical strategies into a comprehensive open-access resource. Available both as hypertext and printable publication, the manual addresses educators, students, researchers, and practitioners, providing structured guidance on participatory planning, damage assessment, heritage evaluation, and the use of digital environments for reconstruction. By bridging technical, cultural, and social dimensions, it offers a transferable framework adaptable across contexts.
Beyond these formal outputs, ComPaRe delivered important intangible results: it fostered international academic collaboration, developed new capacities among students and educators, and created strong connections with local communities. The participatory fieldwork in Accumoli engaged residents and stakeholders in envisioning future scenarios, raising awareness of inclusive and sustainable strategies. The evolving image and knowledge database created through these activities serves as both a memory archive and an educational tool.
Together, these results establish ComPaRe as a model for integrating education, technology, and community engagement in post-disaster recovery. By balancing innovation with cultural and social sensitivity, the project contributes to a future-oriented reconstruction culture in Europe and beyond.
Results of the project: https://www.compare-erasmus.eu/results
Project Partners:
- University of Continuing Education Krems (UWK), Austria
- Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), Slovakia
- University of Camerino (UNICAM), Italy
- Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Hungary
- Masaryk University (MUNI), Czech Republic
- Sapienza University of Rome (Sapienza), Italy
- Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), Czech Republic
- Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITAM), Czech Republic
Associated Partners:
- Municipality of Accumoli, Italy
- Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo, Italy
- Venti di Cultura, Italy
- Department of Culture & Heritage Preservation, South Moravian Region, Czech Republic
Project team at the Faculty of Architecture and Design: Vladimír Hain, Martin Uhrík, Katarína Vošková, Roman Hajtmanek, Alexander Kupko, Viktória Mitrová, Veronika Trecáková
