Redevelopment and recovery First Italian State Mint

Rome, Italy

RPZ cultural buildings museums

Redevelopment and recovery of the complex of the First Italian State Mint
 
Rome, Italy
2019-ongoing

program: Redevelopment and recovery of the complex of the First Italian State Mint, creation of a multifunctional cultural pole 
gross floor area: 11 300 m2 + 1 underground floor
gross floor area by use
bookshop: 231,6 m²
coffee shop: 252,3 m²
restaurant: 195,0 m²
School of Arts and Crafts: 2023,6 m²
library: 299,2 m²
service center: 1449,0 m²
artisan workshops: 875,0 m²
museum and areas for temporary exhibitions:
4323,2 m²
convention center: 807,2 m²
guesthouse: 837,4 m²

client: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
Italiano spa
Alfonso Femia / Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia with
architectural co-designer: Principioattivo Architecture Group S.R.L.
estimated costs and time / safety coordination in the design phase: For Engineering Architecture
structural engineering: Redesco Progetti Srl
services and environmental engineering: Tekser srl
installation project: dUCKS Scenò + Ott Art Srl
archeologist: Dott.ssa Anna Bondini
expert in economic management of cultural heritage: Dott.ssa Beatrice Ravelli
expert in participatory processes and communication: Dott.ssa Chiara Mortaroli
expert in restoration: Arch. Alberto Torsello
expert in technological innovation: Dott. Massimo Temporali
curator expert consultant: Dott.ssa Vera Canevazzi
corporate image: Tonidigrigio Srl
multimedia: Videoworks

images: ©Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia & Diorama

The building of the First Italian State Mint on via Principe Umberto represents one of the key elements for the development of the area that extends itself south of Stazione Termini and which finds its center in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.
The project has as its first objective the redevelopment and renovation of the existing building, emphasizing its original features which date back to the first half of the 1900s, in accordance with a re-functionalization of the internal spaces designed to accommodate the new program specified in the call.

The attitude towards the existing is based on the desire to find the identitary elements that characterized the symmetrical and composed volumetric system of the building and the “industrial” flavor of the rooms, given by the presence of large machines for processing coins and by the exposed plant system that the project maintains and emphasizes.
Therefore the demolition of all the superfetations – which have pervaded the roofs and concealed the clear three-court structure over the years – was foreseen, providing for the demolition and reconstruction of the top floor of the central body, with an advancement of the volume towards Via Principe Amedeo, always in compliance with the limits given by local Regulations and by the constraint of historical interest on the property.
The new volume is characterized by an orderly and “delicate” architecture in its relationship with the existing one.

From a functional point of view, the project emphasizes the stereometric structure of the current building: its base contains the museum and the spaces open to the public, such as the cafeteria, the bookshop and the congress hall. On the first floor, the library and the service center. The Medal School is situated in the central courtyard and in the front on Via Principe Umberto. Finally, in the middle volume there is the guesthouse with the restaurant.
The introduction of new stairways has given the opportunity to optimize the internal flows, separating them according to the functions and integrating them with the existing body.

A project that therefore aims to integrate the past, to research and rediscover the original features of the State Mint building, but always keeping in mind the future and its ability to revitalize, through the new program and spaces rich in history and value.

University of Avignon, Restoration and creation of “Villa Créative”

Avignon, France

APU educational buildings

University of Avignon, Restoration and creation of “Villa Créative”
Avignon, France
2018-under construction

program: auditorium, living lab, coworking, training and formation centre, audio-visual research labs, digital garden (4000 sqm)
total area: 7 540 sqm

client: Rectorat Académie Aix-Marseille
Alfonso Femia / Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia with
building restoration project: Detry-Levy & Associés
landscape: Après la Pluie
structural, services and environmental engineering: Quadriplus Groupe

images : ©Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia

The “Villa Créative” project aims to support long term the “laboratories of thought” born in the Avignon Festival.

Cradle of subjects such as the awakening of conscience, the conception of the world of tomorrow through the prism of art, these moments of sharing open to all cultivate a critical sense towards dialogue, encounter, the emergence of a creative identity of the city of Avignon.

“Villa Créative” has created bridges, connections, interactions between both artistic and scientific disciplines. A central place for thought, debate and intellectual and scientific exchange of the Avignon Festival, “Villa Créative” leaves its “summer dimension” to develop this uniqueness throughout the year and offer Avignon a place for culture and the “digital world”, elements that characterize the city.

The Corner

Milan, Italy

MGU directional

The Corner
Milan, Italy
2014-2019

program: Redevelopment of the Generali building positioned between Viale della Liberazione and Viale Melchiorre Gioia in Milan.
area: 17 500 m2
model floor plan: 1 700 m2
parkings: 4 400 m2

client: Generali Real Estate S.p.A. Società di gestione del risparmio, Fondo Mascagni
Alfonso Femia / Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia with
structural and services engineering: FOR Engineering Architecture
security during design and execution phases: Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia, FOR Engineering Architecture
contractor: CGG – Gilardi Costruzioni
energy levels: Classe A, LEED Gold

photos: ©S.Anzini

“The Corner” project involves the redevelopment of a building of the 1970s, property of the Generali Group, and located on the corner of Viale della Liberazione and Viale Melchiorre Gioia in Milan.
The existing building presents itself as an articulated and complex body to bring back to life through a new identity.

The “actions” of the project can be distinguished in:
1. overlay of two floors of the existing building;
2. reconstruction of the facades of the existing building, including the fronts towards the inner courtyard and those of the lower body;
3. redevelopment of the ground floor, including the porches and the shelter on Melchiorre Gioia;
5. implementation of new terraced areas both on the roof of the building and above the lower body on the inside of the court;
6. redevelopment of the building’s plant system, through the use of renewable sources and high-performance systems with low power consumption.
7. achievement of Class A and LEED Silver certification
8. adaptation of the building to the seismic and fire regulations currently in force.

Office building in Rome

Rome, Italy

RPV directional

Office building in Rome 
Rome, Italy
2018

program: Restoration of the office building on Via Veneto 89 in Rome
total area: 20 776 sqm
floor area: 11 426 sqm
offices: 6 385 sqm

client: Prelios SGR
Alfonso Femia / Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia with
structural engineering: Milan Ingegneria
services engineering: Openprogetti Ingegneria
Ieed-breeam: Energo Group

images: ©Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia

The project for the redevelopment of the building on Via Veneto in Rome confronts itself with a historical context of great importance and with an iconic building from the early 1900s. The building is characterized by “its exterior architecture which reflects its modern style while harmonizing with the surrounding environment that imposes grandeur and a severity of lines and masses” which the renovation project intends to restore in order to enhance the work of architect Broggi.
Over time, Broggi’s architecture has undergone variations concerning not only its external facades, but also the spaces related to the internal courtyards. From a volumetric point of view, the entire central courtyard has been freed from the volume, present on ground floor, mezzanine and first floors, by making the exedra that had been incorporated within the building’s volume re-emerge.
The courtyard returns to its former glory and becomes a fundamental element for the quality of the internal office spaces. The east courtyard (the small courtyard) is also freed from the presence of two elevators, which are relocated to more functional points, offering the possibility to redefine the original volume of the building and, in this case, to guarantee better quality of the interior spaces of the offices.

J1 L’Odyssée, the Underwater City

Marseilles, France

MJ1 cities and landscape educational buildings sport, retail & hotel

J1 L’Odyssée, the Underwater City
Marseilles, France
2018

program: Redevelopment of the J1 building in Marseilles – an underwater city dedicated to Blue Economy with research, training and exhibition spaces; gourmet market, hotel, retail, sport spaces, offices and services

total area: 46 611 m2
gourmet market: 1 840 m2
sports & spa: 1 970 m2
offices: 11 401 m2
training spaces: 3 830 m2
gestione / concierge: 1 040 m2
exhibition spaces: 1 150 m2
hotel: 6 060 m2
retail spaces: 2 050 m2
body of water: 250 m2
underwater city: 10 920 m2
restaurant: 1 100 m2

client: Grand Port Maritime de Marseille
Alfonso Femia / Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia with Carta Associés, Jacques Rougerie Architectes Associés, Christiane Schmückle-Mollard
design: Ora Ito
lighting design: Alfonso Femia/AF*DESIGN with SNAIK – Yann Kersalé
engineering: BG Ingénieurs conseils – EDF
economy control office: R2M
promotor: DCB International
contractor: FAYAT Bâtiment
energy levels and certifications: label One Planet Living, label BBCA (Bâtiment Bas Carbone) Rénovation 2018

images: ©Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia & Diorama

Marseilles is connected to its sea, the Mediterranean, through an axis that connects north to south there where its harbour turns towards east and looks west.
To the west, the horizon and many other that are created during the day according to the parabolic trajectory of the sun that accompanies us until sunset. The harbour, with the characteristic profiles of its port infrastructures, concentrates to the west its most emblematic structures, of which J1 is one of the last extraordinary examples.
The project is a continuous research for dialogue with the light that turns towards the horizon, penetrating between J1’s structure and the suspended volume of the underwater space. J1’s horizon is that of the sea merging with the sky and of the sky merging with the sea. Feel it, discover it, experience it at different levels, through different worlds, from the city to the harbour and from the harbour to the sea; these are the feelings that guide all the phases of our project, always looking for this suspension between water and air or between sea and sky, in an always clear relationship between the value of heritage, of the « existing », of J1, the public space, the harbour, the exploration space and the underwater one.
Finally, this project minimizes the amount of ground occupied by the building. The new project is partly conceived as a “underwater” volume, with more intimate spaces destined to discovery and contemplation. And then, a suspended space destined to a more collective dimension, always exploring the horizon and the city. In the middle, the empty, transparent and permeable space brings continuity with the public space of the city.

Redevelopment of former Cantore Barracks 

Cuneo, Italy

CCR educational buildings

Redevelopment of the classrooms of the former Cantore Barracks in Cuneo 
Cuneo, Italy
2013-2016

program: Redevelopment of the classrooms of the former Cantore Barracks 
total area: 1 325 m2
floor area: 1 018 m2

client: Comune di Cuneo
Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia with
structural engineering: FOR Engineering Architecture
services and environmental engineering: FOR Engineering Architecture
safety advisor: Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia, FOR Engineering Architecture

photos: ©L.Boegly

The project for the renovation of the classrooms of the former Cantore Barracks in Cuneo, includes the maintenance of the existing building’s envelope as a “container”for its new function.
This space dedicated to music will be a catalyst for the redevelopment of the intervention area.
Through a large terrace, that will cover the difference in height between the courtyard and the interior of the two sheds, it will be possible to access the entrances of the two buildings.
This external arrangement, as well as creating a pleasant space accessible by the user, will also allow the use of the interspace between the two buildings.
To ensure maximum space versatility, the sheds will be emptied of their internal partitions.
The first shed named “A”, will be integrated with a single diagonal block for services and deposits. The remaining space will be destined for practice rooms.
Instead, all the different rooms dedicated to recording and rehearsals will be arranged on the external perimeter of the “B” shed. The space in the center will be dedicated to the entrance foyer and to services.
The wide existing openings will be preserved and redesigned to allow good light diffusion within the buildings.
The design of the internal partitions is deliberately inclined to better ensure acoustic efficiency and to characterize the plant and internal facade designs.