Ophelia Project

The Ophelia Project by Giuseppe Quaroni and Marcello Piacentini refers to an innovative mental health hospital built in Potenza, Basilicata (Italy), in the 1910s.

The decision to build a new provincial institution for mental health in Potenza dates back to the early twentieth century.

The Provincial Deputation of Basilicata wanted to reduce the expenses paid by municipalities to send the mentally ill to Aversa Psychiatric Hospital, which was in another region.

Quaroni, an engineer, and Piacentini, an architect, were both from Rome and they named their project after the Hamlet character, Ophelia, who goes mad and drowns herself in Shakespeare's tragedy ("O heat, dry up my brains!

Unfortunately, due to the high costs, the outbreak of World War I and also the alteration of the initial plan to stand up to the expenses, the Provincial Council decided not to earmark the buildings for the mental institution anymore.

In order to avoid that, they looked for a solution that could make their stay a little more pleasant, especially in the moments of higher consciousness; so they opted for the separation of the different types of patients in different pavilions, each of them surrounded by blooming gardens and boulevards that would provide the healing power of nature.

Following an in-depth study on mental illness, Quaroni and Piacentini designed blocks for the following profiles of mentally ill patients: tranquilli (quiet) – semiagitati (semi-violent) – agitati e furiosi (violent and furious) – sudici ed epilettici (filthy and epilectic)– paralitici ed infermi (paralytic and infirm)– fanciulli e idioti (children and idiots) – contagiosi (infectious) – dementi criminali (insane criminals).

For example, quiet and semi-violent patients were placed in the buildings closer to the station or to the Colonia agricola (farming colony) where they could work the land or do manual labour, thus promoting their rehabilitation process.

Quaroni and Piacentini wanted to place them against some buildings so that patients could be well monitored by nurses and other assistants; but, of course, big windows and openings were needed to ensure adequate ventilation.

The principal entrance was characterized by a vehicle ramp and two separate flights of steps at the sides of the tunnel, which allowed to get to the upper square.