Il laboratorio Raffo per la lavorazione del marmo a Pietrasanta. Studi e indagini per conservazione e la valorizzazione di un’architettura di Sergio Musmeci

The contribution examines the Raffo marble factory in Pietrasanta, designed by Sergio Musmeci in the mid-1950s and now recognised as a significant example of post-war Italian industrial heritage. The building is distinguished by its innovative structural conception, particularly the exposed reinforced-concrete pleated roof and fork-shaped pillars, whose unusual geometries reflect Musmeci’s experimental approach to the relationship between form, forces, and construction. The research combines archival documentation, historical analysis, direct survey, mapping of deterioration, and in situ and laboratory diagnostic investigations. Although the load-bearing structures show no evident signs of major structural distress, significant conservation problems affect the roof, where inadequate rainwater drainage has caused persistent dampness and deterioration of the reinforced-concrete slab. Further issues concern the corrosion of the original metal window frames and the consequent loss of watertightness. The study provides an integrated knowledge framework and preliminary guidelines for a future conservation project, emphasising the need to preserve the building’s material authenticity, structural characteristics, and distinctive architectural language while assessing and monitoring compatible intervention techniques.