At 1335 meters above sea level, in the village of Burgusio in Val Venosta, stands the highest Benedictine abbey in Europe, whose recent restoration by architect Werner Tscholl is now described in a new book published by Electa.
Due to be published on January 18th, the book recounts the preservation, restoration and architectural regeneration of the Monte Maria Abbey, interventions that began by analyzing the texts of the 12th century monk Goswin.
From the first architectural intervention to the last one, begun in 2005 on the initiative of Abbot Bruno Trauner, the author Marco Mulazzani traces the history of one of the most important monasteries in the Tyrol, told through historical texts, illustrations and photographs.

In the great debate within the art world, which since the 1800s has pitted restoration against conservation, the book emphasizes the ability of Tscholl’s project to create harmony between the different areas of the structure. Per farlo sono stati utilizzati pochi materiali essenziali come il calcestruzzo pigmentato, lastre in acciaio trattato a cera, vetro trasparente e satinato, inseriti perfettamente nell’edificio originario.
The photographs taken by René Riller enhance all the rooms in the Abbey of Monte Maria, especially the underground library under the Herrengarten, with the recovery of the former church of Sant’Egidio as a reading room for the public. The building is in fact conceived as a hub for the community of the area, in this sense is particularly important the realization of the museum of the abbey, a place through which combine historical and future aspects of the building.

ABTEI MARIENBERG – ABBAZIA MONTEMARIA is included in the Electaarchitettura series and can be purchased on the publisher’s website.