MWA Museums
Medieval wooden architecture is an incredible source of archetypes for sustainable and resilient architecture, and a timeless lesson in terms of relationship between Man, Nature, and Divine.
Thomas Allocca
Medieval Wooden Architecture Museums
V I S I O N & M I S S I O N
MWA Museums is a private project by White Oak Arkitecture, launched in March 2024, with the aim of establishing museums focused on medieval wooden architecture, with full-scale reconstructions, and promote its archetypes as a fundamental cultural heritage for European architecture history, and as an extraordinary source for sustainable and resilient architecture, urban regeneration, and academic tourism.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L R E F E R E N C E S
MWA Museums 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 Museums is committed to join the United Nations Gobal Compact.
L O G O
The logo has been inspired by the three royal burial mounds (Kungshögarna) at the Norse site of Gamla Uppsala, in Sweden. The three cusps of the letters M and W represent the three royal mounds. The geometry of the whole logo is based on the number 4, with the name MWA designed as a sequence of four identical triangles.
photo by Wiglaf, Royal Mounds at Gamla Uppsala
Research and Museums
Krunatun
Started in April 2024, the Krunatun project aims at creating a medieval museum with headquarters in the town of Corleto Monforte (Salerno, Italy), in the heart of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Monti Alburni National Park (UNESCO Site since 1998). The museum will celebrate the history and architecture of the Longobard County that had seat in Corleto Monforte, supposing its establishment around years 570-575, as part of the Ducky of Benevento, then passed to the Principality of Salerno around year 850, and ended around years 1075-1077 with the Norman conquest of Southern Italy.
The results of the first historical and non-invasive archaeological research have been published on 4 December 2024 in the book Krunatun. Corleto Monforte in the Longobard Early Middle Ages.
lead town: Corleto Monforte __ partner towns (9): Altavilla Silentina, Castel San Lorenzo, Felitto, Laurino, Magliano Vetere, Ottati, Sant'Angelo a Fasanella, Serre, Sicignano degli Alburni __ research sites (14): Aquara, Bellosguardo, Campora, Castelcivita, Controne, Conza della Campania, Piaggine, Postiglione, Roccagloriosa, Rofrano, Roscigno, Sacco, San Rufo, Valle dell'Angelo
Helfara
Started in March 2025, the Helfara project aims at creating a medieval museum with headquarters in the town of Sant'Angelo a Fasanella (Salerno, Italy), in the heart of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Monti Alburni National Park (UNESCO Site since 1998). The museum will celebrate the history and architecture of the Longobard fortified settlement of the County that had seat in Corleto Monforte (see Krunatun project). The first historical and non-invasive archaeological research have been focused on the area of the lost Benedictine abbey of the still existing sanctuary-church Grotta di San Michele Arcangelo, where we have found what have been supposed could be traces of a runic inscription of a Longobard or a Saxon noble's tomb. So far, we have identified 13 runes, and a possible name Edwin. Since March 2026, thanks to the partnership between the MWA Museums project and the Federazione Speleologia Campana, it will be possible to plan more detailed speleological inspections in the caves.
lead town: Sant'Angelo a Fasanella __ partner towns (2): Corleto Monforte, Ottati
Longobard Caves | MWA-FSC Compact
Project of partnership between the MWA Museums and the Federazione Speleologica Campana, for searchig traces of early medieval architecture in caves, exploring the Italian territory corresponding to the ancient Longobard Duchy of Benevento. The partnership agreement is being signed in February 2026. The press release will come soon.
photo credits for the page www.whiteoak.it/mwa: Royal Mounds at Gamla Uppsala, by Wiglaf; wooden trusses at Cluny Abbey, by Felix Gherardini