The new headquarters of Faber Industrie is in Cividale del Friuli, in the district of Udine. The company, founded in 1972, is now leader in the production of seamless steel and composite cylinders for the storage of high-pressure gases.
The designers of Geza (Gri e Zucchi architetti associati) - architecture studio born in 1999 by Stefano Gri and Piero Zucchi and currently partner of MTD-Marc Thorpe Design (New York) and CFK Architects (Venice) - are the curators of the renovation of the structures.
The project
The aim of the project was to create a concept that would combine the two landscapes of the building’s location: the industrial and the natural one. For this purpose, the volume of the building was designed to incorporate them into its spaces.
The new Headquarter consists of approximately 2,800 square meters above ground and nearly 1.400 square meters in the basement. It is divided into two longitudinal volumes oriented along the East-West axis, with a total thickness of 7.80 meters and different height and length, connected by a central body, which is meant as a hall/reception, waiting zone and functional connection between the areas.
The open spaces are limited by a cypresses edge, used as vertical "signs" with the facade panels. The rows move around the internal and external areas, hiding the parking lot or accentuating the prospective views.
The section is also hardly affected by the “double” connotation of the area. The sections of the two longitudinal buildings become two “S”, with the corridor/office level switching into the others: a completely blind side and a fully open one overlap, creating a strong impact on the open/closed alternating prospects. Everything is divided into two large groups of spaces, one overlooking the inner courtyards (executive areas, main public spaces and meeting rooms) and the other (operating offices) overlooking the industrial area outside.
Two materials
The theme of the double involves the entire design process, thus appearing also on the façades that show an expert use of the materials.
The structure has in fact a ventilated cladding made with two materials: black concrete and black glass. The concrete prefabricated panels and the facade cells are horizontal, with a width of 4 meters and a height of 70 centimetres. These elements were all laid following a single criterion: a 20 mm negative joint. This “absent” element - the joint - regulates the installation of all the parts of the façade, the floor and sky anchor, the horizontal and vertical joints, the material changes and the corner units of the entire operation.
By means of the soft nuances produced by different types of glass (four) and concrete (five ones), the building maintains its “industrial” shape and structure, pleasantly inserting with its one-colour soft shade into the natural context. What is more, the black concrete characterizes the most important interior space: the entrance hall. It is 25 meters long, 12 meters wide and 6.5 meters high.
A large black Venetian floor completes this large space as a “liquid” element that reflects and connects the two green courtyards.
- *Credits
Location: Cividale del Friuli, Udine
Construction management: GEZA Gri e Zucchi Architetti Associati – Stefano Gri, Piero Zucchi
Team: Stefania Anzil, Chiara Marchetti, Tania Teixeira, Francesco Casella, Tina Carletti
Structural project: Nuttassociati, Udine, Italy
Facades project: Ing. Angelo Peruzza
Mechanical system project: Bulfon Associati, Udine
Electrical system project: Venica Studio, Udine
Systems consulting: HT Engineering, Udine
Building company: Edildri Costruzioni
Mechanical system: Elettrica Ducale
Electrical system: Tecnoimpianti/Nonino
Tailored furniture: Arredi Ermacora
Office furniture: Multitema
Chronology: design period: 2009-2011; construction period: 2011-2013
Data: parcel area: 106.000 sq m; project area: 3.170 sq m + 1180 sq m basement volumetric dimensions: 10.500 cubic m
Photos: Massimo Crivellari
