Magnitude  2010  @  L’Aquila  

Restoring  the  Future,    by  Rebuilding  the  Past  

Gaby  Sadowski,  municipality  of  Eindhoven  

  
 

Become  part  of  a  community  with  Great  Magnitude!  

 
June,  2010.  A  summer  night.  We  were  enjoying  a  home  cooked  Italian  meal.  After  
the  dinner  we  talked  about  a  possible  visit  to  L’Aquila.  This  is  where  our  Italian  
friend  was  born  and  raised.  When  Alberto  talks  about  L’Aquila  something  
happens  in  his  eyes.  It  is  a  mixture  of  proud  and  sadness.  An  earthquake  with  an  
enormous  magnitude  did  hit  his  hometown  and  destroyed  it.  
That  night  the  idea  for  Magnitude  2010  was  born.  Is  it  possible  to  rebuild  the  city  
of  L’Aquila  with  help  from  all  over  the  world?  Rebuilding  it  with  new  insights  
about  earthquake-­‐proof  methods,  innovative  ideas  about  energy,  light,  safety,  
modern  communication  structures,  well-­‐being,  etc?  
With  the  World  Wide  Open  Innovation  Festival  (OIF2010)  coming  up  from  the  
29th  of  November  until  the  3rd  of  December,  the  link  was  established.  The  
OIF2010  event  would  be  the  perfect  co-­‐creation  platform  to  connect  cities,  
companies,  citizens  and  innovative  concepts  for  rebuilding  the  city  of  L’Aquila.  
First  we  want  to  move  quickly  by  rebuilding  the  city  in  a  virtual  manner,  using  
techniques  like  Augmented  Reality  and  other  concepts  of  virtual  cities.  Hoping  to  
form  communities  around  this  virtual  L’Aquila.  Communities  that  will  foster  
cooperation  between  the  citizens  and  companies  in  L’Aquila  with  everyone  
interested  of  joining  from  outside  L’Aquila.  A  virtual  city  will  bring  back  
memories  about  how  beautiful  L’Aquila  was,  it  will  provide  hope  in  getting  this  
beauty  and  safety  back,  and  it  will  create  a  sense  of  presence.  Our  main  goal  is  of  
course  to  rebuild  L’Aquila  with  bricks  and  stones  and  new  techniques!  
Combine  our  forces  over  the  world  and  let’s  just  do  it!  
 
Become  part  of  a  community  with  Great  Magnitude!