Building built: technical characteristics
The need to use new spaces for the performance of the production activity of GUARDINI S.p.A. has led the Company to acquire the finished industrial building the historic headquarters, in consideration of the relative simplicity of connection between the existing building emergencies, while being aware of having to intervene heavily in the redevelopment of the site. The redevelopment interventions involved functional and performance aspects of the southern portion of the existing industrial building hosting the office areas; have seen the construction of a new office building; led to the modification of the layout of the external appurtenant area south, as well as to the study of the redevelopment of the southern perspective front of the industrial building in order to make it consistent with the new architectural aspect of the complex.
The relocation of some company processes has led to the consequent transfer of part of the staff from one industrial area to another. The existing structures were no longer suitable for receiving visiting client delegations for corporate image, available surfaces and equipment. Through a systematic set of works, the architectural, functional and energetic redevelopment of the portion of the existing office building, included in the main building volume, adapting it to the new corporate needs with the localization of representative and training spaces of a temporal nature of permanence, has come to life. The southern portion, overlooking the "winter garden" has maintained an exhibition destination, representation and / or training of staff. At the various levels, the portion overlooking the industrial building has been delegated to the location of appurtenant spaces and services.
The creation of a "hinge / greenhouse" of important environmental value and in terms of quality of life of the built space. It has made it possible to expand the existing façade openings to allow greater permeability to filtering light through the glass surfaces on the roof. The new management building has approached the existing one leaning on the transparent void.
The new construction was motivated by the conviction of having to implement countermeasures aimed at limiting emissions into the atmosphere resulting from the consumption of non-renewable energy sources, the orientation towards sustainable construction and not least the prospect of lower management costs in living in the building. Inside, various functions have been located on three different levels connected to each other by a main staircase, made of steel sheet bent and suspended by means of strands to the metal profiles of the roof. The shape of the balustrade, together with the poor perception of the type element tread-raised, allows you to deceive the eye by representing steps of filtering light from the large transparent mirrors characterizing the entire building. Two other service stairs and an elevator system complete the vertical paths inside the new building.
On the ground floor, the entrance hall, welcomes the visitor between a body of still water and a neat, almost rigorous garden. The extended white of the surfaces and the black highlighting the structures stand out. On the first and second floor two open spaces are furnished with transparent movable walls recreating office spaces at noon and a distribution corridor jutting out over the internal garden.
The widespread use of transparent surfaces makes possible the sensory development of teamwork. In their office no one is isolated; does not feel the sensation of being in a delocalized or secondary position. Everyone is part of the same work team and feels equally protagonists leaning towards a new business growth. Outside the built volume, a mirror of water, firm, re-proposes the bond of man with the essential natural element. It combines and encloses aspects and compositional, technological and passive mitigation of the conditions at the built contour.
Technologically, the new factory is characterized by the search for a "collected form" to optimize the S/V ratio, ("Surface on Volume"), while conditioning the possibilities offered by the scope of intervention. The blind building envelope has a total thickness of 52 cm. (of which 18 cm. of insulation); consisting of: internal finishing paneling in plasterboard; sound-absorbing insulating mat; modular brick elements; insulating mats of different thickness; breathable/waterproofing sheath; air chamber; metal structure in aluminum elements to support the metal façade cladding in "Rehinzink". The transparent building envelope consists of windows and glazed mirrors with high energy performance.
In terms of environmental sustainability, the achievement of the objectives set was also possible through the adoption of passive systems to mitigate the internal temperature of the building, with the construction of a ventilation chimney located to the north above the roof of the current industrial building. The "greenhouse / hinge" acts as a link between the new portion of the building and the pre-existing building, it is used in winter to increase the beneficial "greenhouse effect" in the cold seasons, and through a series of automated summit openings, used in summer for the stimulation of air flows moved by the "Venturi effect".
Structurally, the building is supported by an elementary system of steel straights and transoms, anchored to the ground by continuous and elastic backdrop elements in ordinary reinforced concrete. A system of collaborating floors in grecated sheet metal and weakly reinforced concrete allows to support the floors of the various levels at which the offices are located. The installed plant systems aim to limit energy waste and are powered by alternative and eco-sustainable energy sources. The power supply of the electrical system takes place both through the traditional connection to the electricity grid and through the on-site production of energy obtained from the positioning of photovoltaic panels on the roof capable of developing a power equal to 20kWh.
The air conditioning system (hot/cold) was made with a radiant panel system on the ceiling, able to lead back to comfort situations due to irradiation of the internal surfaces with which our epidermis exchanges heat. The passage of hot water at low temperature, or cold water, in pipes placed intradossally the plasterboard panels of false ceiling allow to control in the long term the temperature of the internal space of the building envelope. The production of hot / cold water is guaranteed by a heating/cooling system using an air-water heat pump capable of generating / dissipating, exploiting the thermal jump determined by the withdrawal of liquid from the underground well present on site.
To complete the building's plant equipment, a controlled mechanical ventilation system was installed with a high efficiency heat exchanger, able to guarantee the correct aerating inputs inside the building, recovering a considerable part of the energy transported by the stale air at the outlet to pre-heat the incoming clean air.
Material Used :
1. Facade cladding: Titanium zinc sheet 15/10mm, Rheinzink
2. Flooring: Resins, Covema (Druento, Torino Itay)– Wooden Floor, Almafloor (Montà, Cuneo Itay)
3. Doors: Aluminium, SCHUCO Italia, (Padova, Italia) – Glasses, BI-VETRO (Rosta, Torino, Italy)
4. Windows: Aluminium, SCHUCO Italia, (Padova, Italia) – Glasses, BI-VETRO (Rosta, Torino, Italy)
5. Interior furniture:
Forniture: Laminate, Newall (Lucrezia di Cartoceto (PU) – Italy)
Movable walls: Glass, About-office (Ancona (An) – Italy)
