VG13 Architects

The simplicity of the program allows for an elementary yet refined construction. Thin reinforced-concrete surfaces are folded around a structural system of columns and beams, creating the impression of a lightweight envelope while remaining integral to a precise structural logic. The only exception is the slightly inclined wall, which opens the space to admit light. The red-pigmented concrete was formulated to match the color of the terracotta roof tiles required within the UNESCO buffer zone where the project is located, allowing the building to appear as a homogeneous whole. The foundations and retaining walls—which account for most of the concrete used in the building—are cast in more economical gray concrete, for both economic and semantic reasons. The resulting form synthesizes the project’s spatial and constructive intentions with its cultural, physical, and economic context. Contractor: CoGeFa, Turin Photography: Alberto Rossi