The “Improving the Usability of the Quartu Sant’Elena Municipal Library” project, designed by Francesco Cocco, Francesca Raimondi and Dora Uricchio, has been awarded an Honourable Mention at the 2026 Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards, presented during the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona.
The international jury highlighted this vision with the following statement: Going beyond code and working with librarians and experts, the project created a delightful, accessible and welcoming civic hub. While minor improvements are possible, the judges acknowledge the challenges of making heritage buildings inclusive with sometimes difficult and valuable existing fabric within budget. With inclusivity at its core, the library is functional, socially vibrant and well connected to its urban context.
We are grateful to the international jury UIA – International Union of Architects and the 2026 Friendly and Inclusive Spaces Awards for this recognition, and to everyone who contributed to making the project possible: the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena, Rete Gaia, the professionals, technicians and all those who, in different ways, took part in this shared effort.
Photo credits: Vetroblu
