One of the strongest suggestions in the design approach is the presence in the area of high density buildings and the proximity to a ten- storey block occupied by the national telephone company. These contextual relations have pushed the project idea towards a dialogue with the urban scale, making the building like a “perspective block”, with a strong plastic impact. The typology of block, defined by exact urban alignments opening and extending themselves towards the city, has been transformed from a closed object into a vertical sequence of variable flat elements. The building is composed by eight longitudinal volumes, juxtaposed one over the other in an apparently casual relationship. This solution provides also functional aspects, like shadowing of main facade by jutting volumes.
At the same time solar exposition is controlled by a particular technological system that combines low -emissivity glass properties with a special polycarbonate panel made from triangular matrix interposed between two glass layers.
This solution allows the light to reflect and consequently reduces excessive heating and also to control visual intrusion aspect.
There are eight panels with a different visual permeability, that give the building textural uniformity and volumetric density with vanishing effect, from the ground floor until the last level.
The project task is providing Ist. Post. with a new headquarters building, to assemble on the same place – a site near the historical area “Garbatella” - offices at present spread on different city locations.
This project was intended to act as “catalyst” element to renovate a major area belonging to the Institute, comprising a large park, offices and sport facilities. The project area borders on the north side with the city center and is situated alongside Via Cristoforo Colombo, the road that connects the city Center with Ostia and the seaside, passing through one of Roma’s main tertiary area.
The project site is characterized by high vehicular accessibility, both private and public, thanks to bus routes and the presence in the nearby Ostiense “Station, where local trains and metro run.
The urban surrounding of the new building site has grown in the sixties, and reveals the presence of many tertiary public and private buildings, such as regional government central offices, some city Government offices, Environmental National Department, and others.
The Site area is moreover qualified by the presence of an archeological roman complex, discovered during geological survey. These findings belong to a bigger archeological system, including a huge ancient roman water tank.
(Another client’s request was the walkable connection with the large park area and the office buildings located on that side of the property. )
The project task was the design of an evocative work place, able to represent the complexity and importance of Ipost at an urban scale.
One of the first suggestions in the design approach is the presence in the area of high density constructions and its proximity to a ten- storey block occupied by the national telephone company.
These contextual relations have pushed the project idea towards a dialogue with the urban scale, making the building like a “perspective block”, with a strong plastic impact.
A“Block“ typology can maximize the ratio between surface and built volume, and is defined from the nearest urban alignments, but in this case the attempt to open it and to emphasize its relation with the urban environment has led to the transformation of closed blocks into a rising sequence of flat elements, with different spatial and functional characteristics.
The project works therefore on a double level: on one side it points to a continuity in urban form, on the other one it realizes a discontinuity element, intended to generate new effects and relations in existing forms.
The building’s major axis is perpendicular to the direction of high traffic road passing nearby, offering a frontal view to cars coming from south and directed to city center.
The building is composed of eight longitudinal volumes, juxtaposed one over the other in an apparently casual relationship following dimensions and shapes required from inner activities.
Main facade is shadowed by jutting volumes. Rear facade is also characterized by jutting volumes but they are less and shorter, balancing the congress halls volume.
Solar exposition is controlled by a particular technological system that combines low -emissivity glass properties with a special polycarbonate panel made from triangular matrix interposed between two glass layers. This solution allows the light to reflect and consequently reduces excessive heating and allows also to control visual intrusion aspect.
There are eight panels with a different visual permeability, that give the building textural uniformity and volumetric density with vanishing effect, from the ground floor until the last level.
These jutting volumes partially give back land surface subtracted by the new constructions, through the
walk ability of the roof volumes (partially floor and grass area)
Functional and spatial distribution is linked to bigger or lower necessity of accessibility from public users.
The first three levels locate the most significant spaces,:
_ ground floor hosts Congress Halls, Training rooms, and archeological area.
_ on first floor there is a congress hall gallery and offices for relations with public users.
_ on the second floor there is a cafeteria, which leads to a walking bridge that is connected to the park.
Upper floors are used mainly as offices and meeting rooms. Every floor has a different spatial configuration. Last floor at height mt. 25.20, is reserved for head of units, for whom the best positions and views are reserved, sometimes directly on a void, in a complete integration between internal and external spaces.
Volumes of stairwell, elevators and some archives work as structural cores crossing the whole height of building.
On the ground floor, departing from the central atrium, there’s a “sculptural” stair made in painted steel structure and treat and riser in steel sheet.
Longitudinal dimension is around mt. 100, the crossing around 22.
Jutting volumes are from 6.75 to 4 deep from main façade.
Main entrance is located on south side of building (main façade), slightly lowered in respect to main street (Via Padre Semeria). It gives access to a large atrium that distributes to Congress Halls, Archeological area and open- to- external-users office.
Circulation can otherwise be separated, creating two or more independent fluxes.
The Congress Center can be divided in three rooms or having just a big one, thanks to moveable wallsand chairs.
The outside area will be planted with different species on a special waved surfaces, characterized by creation of artificial green “dunes”. This devices act as “water-catcher”, and therefore becomes also useful in the complex system of recycling and saving energy that characterizes the building project.