MWA
MWA | Medieval Wooden Architecture
V I S I O N & M I S S I O N
MWA is an independent research project on medieval wooden architecture, for the exploration of its archetypes and symbolism, and the establishment of new museums with full-scale reconstructions. MWA is funded by private donors and public funds.
MWA is committed to be aligned with the principles and aims of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the United Nations Global Compact. MWA is committed to join the United Nations Gobal Compact.
L O G O
The logo was inspired by the three royal burial mounds (Kungshögarna) at the Norse site of Gamla Uppsala, in Sweden, represented by the three cusps of the letters MW.
Geometrically, the acronym MWA was designed from the partial overlapping of three identical M, representing the first letter of the acronym MWA and the first letter of the Norse rune "Manðr", the rune of Man and for extension its architecture.
Royal Mounds at Gamla Uppsala, Sweden, photo by Wiglaf
Research and Museum Projects
Krunatun
Italy | Longobard wooden architecture | Research and Museum project | March 2024 -
Krunatun is a research and museum project aimed at exploring for the first time the architectural history of the Longobard County that had seat in the actual Corleto Monforte town. Since June 2026, the project is in partnership with 10 towns and in collaboration with the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Monti Alburni National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) for the establishment of the Krunatun Museum which includes the full-scale reconstruction of a Longobard chieftain longhouse.
book
Thomas Allocca (4 December 2024), Krunatun. Corleto Monforte in the Longobard Early Middle Ages, published by MWA, Medieval Wooden Architecture Research and Museums Project, Marigliano, Italy
Helfara
Italy | Longobard wooden architecture | Research project | March 2025 -
Helfara is a research project aimed at exploring for the first time the architectural history of the Longobard settlement of Helfara, then evolved into the actual Sant'Angelo a Fasanella town. The project is mainly focused on the ruins of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Michael the Archangel. The project is in partnership with the town of Sant'Angelo a Fasanella and the Krunatun project.
Ahto Thurni - Octo Turris
Italy | Longobard wooden architecture | Research project | March 2026 -
Ahto Thurni is a research project aimed at exploring for the first time the architectural history of the Longobard settlement of Ahto Thurni > Octo Turris then evolved into the actual Ottati town, in the province of Salerno (Italy). The project is in partnership with the town of Ottati and the Krunatun project.
Dragon Skin
Italy | Longobard wooden architecture | Research project | October 2025 - March 2026
Dragon Skin was a research project that investigated on archaeological, artistic, and historical-literary data, for a new hypothesis on the original wooden church of the Longobard Royal Abbey of Nonantola. The research identified clues suggesting Pagan-Christian syncretism based on pre-Christian Scandinavian dragon symbolism.
the research was published in the United States of America
Thomas Allocca (March 2026), Dragon Skin and the Longobard Royal Abbey of San Silvestro in Nonantola, Italy, in Timber Framing Journal, issue 159, published by Timber Framers Guild, Alstead, New Hampshire, USA
Norður
Scandinavia | proto-Norse and Norse wooden architecture | Research project | June 2026 -
Norður is a research project aimed at exploring the archetypes and symbolism of proto-Norse and Norse wooden architecture, and the Pagan-Christian syncretism that followed the Christianization of medieval Scandinavia.
