Fondazione Agnelli - Studio Ing. A. Ferraresi

Redevelopment of
the Fondazione Agnelli
headquarters
Redevelopment of
the Fondazione Agnelli
headquarters
Redevelopment of
the Fondazione Agnelli
headquarters

Project Features

From legacy of great masters to smart architecture

The Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli is an institute for social and educational research created in 1966 on the centenary of the birth of Senator Giovanni Agnelli, founder of FIAT. Established in the San Salvario district within the late-eclectic style villa that had been the Senator’s residence, it expanded its premises in the 1970s with a wing designed by architect Amedeo Albertini – one of the protagonists of 20th-century Turin – and further integrated in the 1980s by two other eminent Turin masters, Gabetti & Isola.
In the second half of the 2010s, the historic complex was radically renovated by the team led by Carlo Ratti – architect and engineer and director of the Senseable City Lab at MIT in Boston, where advanced research is carried out on the relationship between architecture, urban planning and digital networks – transforming it into a sophisticated, experimental workspace infused with a network of advanced sensors and technologies. The redesign of the garden was signed by the renowned French landscape architect Louis Benech.

A “responsive” and sustainable building

The complex – formed by the Agnelli villa and the Albertini wing, distinguished by large ground-floor glazing and two unusual orders of protruding windows on upper floors – today accommodates, in addition to the Foundation’s educational laboratories, the Talent Garden coworking space dedicated to innovative digital startups and a futuristic bar that makes extensive use of new technologies.

The most significant aspect of this “Office 3.0,” as Carlo Ratti called it, is that it leverages the advantages of the Internet of Things (IoT) to become a responsive, sustainable complex oriented toward the future. Inside, it is possible to pre-schedule the use of spaces via an app and tailor the climate and lighting of each workstation, creating around individual occupants a sort of “environmental bubble” that follows them as they move through the building. This optimizes energy consumption, enabling ecological and highly comfortable use of the spaces.

Spaces open up to the neighborhood

The complex opens up to district residents through the protruding glazed body of the digital bar; to nature through a garden-orchard that offers occupants the possibility of working in green surroundings; and to contemporary art with the installation, in the main stairway of the villa, of an evocative two-story colored glass work by renowned Danish artist Olafur Eliasson titled “Tempo junction.” Finally, above the atrium of the Albertini wing are two original tensile structures suspended several meters high, on which visitors can walk, jump or relax.
This highly experimental architectural project breaks free from the constraints of traditional functional uses to create an open system of relationships both with environmental conditions and with colleagues, in harmony with the fluidity of contemporary work styles.

From legacy of great masters to smart architecture

The Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli is an institute for social and educational research created in 1966 on the centenary of the birth of Senator Giovanni Agnelli, founder of FIAT. Established in the San Salvario district within the late-eclectic style villa that had been the Senator’s residence, it expanded its premises in the 1970s with a wing designed by architect Amedeo Albertini – one of the protagonists of 20th-century Turin – and further integrated in the 1980s by two other eminent Turin masters, Gabetti & Isola.
In the second half of the 2010s, the historic complex was radically renovated by the team led by Carlo Ratti – architect and engineer and director of the Senseable City Lab at MIT in Boston, where advanced research is carried out on the relationship between architecture, urban planning and digital networks – transforming it into a sophisticated, experimental workspace infused with a network of advanced sensors and technologies. The redesign of the garden was signed by the renowned French landscape architect Louis Benech.

A “responsive” and sustainable building

The complex – formed by the Agnelli villa and the Albertini wing, distinguished by large ground-floor glazing and two unusual orders of protruding windows on upper floors – today accommodates, in addition to the Foundation’s educational laboratories, the Talent Garden coworking space dedicated to innovative digital startups and a futuristic bar that makes extensive use of new technologies.

The most significant aspect of this “Office 3.0,” as Carlo Ratti called it, is that it leverages the advantages of the Internet of Things (IoT) to become a responsive, sustainable complex oriented toward the future. Inside, it is possible to pre-schedule the use of spaces via an app and tailor the climate and lighting of each workstation, creating around individual occupants a sort of “environmental bubble” that follows them as they move through the building. This optimizes energy consumption, enabling ecological and highly comfortable use of the spaces.

Spaces open up to the neighborhood

The complex opens up to district residents through the protruding glazed body of the digital bar; to nature through a garden-orchard that offers occupants the possibility of working in green surroundings; and to contemporary art with the installation, in the main stairway of the villa, of an evocative two-story colored glass work by renowned Danish artist Olafur Eliasson titled “Tempo junction.” Finally, above the atrium of the Albertini wing are two original tensile structures suspended several meters high, on which visitors can walk, jump or relax.
This highly experimental architectural project breaks free from the constraints of traditional functional uses to create an open system of relationships both with environmental conditions and with colleagues, in harmony with the fluidity of contemporary work styles.

Technical solutions for architecture

Studio A. Ferraresi – AF Engineering was involved in various roles in the redevelopment. Andrea Ferraresi managed the urban design in coordination with the municipality, specifications and contracts, construction management and clerk of work, site safety and safety coordination, but particularly the detailed design in assistance at the architectural one – proposing materials, technical solutions and design ideas capable of translating the architect refined spatial and functional concepts into practice.
One of the most demanding aspects involved completely emptying the Albertini wing, followed by structural consolidation and the study of new layouts to create flexible, well-managed spaces. The brick-concrete composite floors were covered with new thin concrete flooring, while all systems are new generation with the use of wells and installation of a complex and widespread supervision and control system.

Careful attention was required for the ceiling treatment, where new engineered metal service “islands” designed by Andrea Ferraresi were installed, integrating lighting, ventilation and sensors.

Engineering of artistic installations

The practical execution of some of the architect’s and artist’s creative ideas required careful study to optimize both the insertion of a new skylight in the stairwell and the installation of the Eliasson artwork, as well as sizing the walkable tensile structures.
Another major challenge was the need to compress construction time into just nine months while keeping alive the authenticity and unity of a project that underwent numerous variations during construction, due to its experimental and innovative nature.

Technical solutions for architecture

Studio A. Ferraresi – AF Engineering was involved in various roles in the redevelopment. Andrea Ferraresi managed the urban design in coordination with the municipality, specifications and contracts, construction management and clerk of work, site safety and safety coordination, but particularly the detailed design in assistance at the architectural one – proposing materials, technical solutions and design ideas capable of translating the architect refined spatial and functional concepts into practice.
One of the most demanding aspects involved completely emptying the Albertini wing, followed by structural consolidation and the study of new layouts to create flexible, well-managed spaces. The brick-concrete composite floors were covered with new thin concrete flooring, while all systems are new generation with the use of wells and installation of a complex and widespread supervision and control system.
Careful attention was required for the ceiling treatment, where new engineered metal service “islands” designed by Andrea Ferraresi were installed, integrating lighting, ventilation and sensors.

Engineering of artistic installations

The practical execution of some of the architect’s and artist’s creative ideas required careful study to optimize both the insertion of a new skylight in the stairwell and the installation of the Eliasson artwork, as well as sizing the walkable tensile structures.
Another major challenge was the need to compress construction time into just nine months while keeping alive the authenticity and unity of a project that underwent numerous variations during construction, due to its experimental and innovative nature.

Project Highlights

The work carried out by Ferraresi’s firm was able to integrate seamlessly with that of the architectural designer, the artist and the landscape architect thanks to a global vision that embraces dialogue with many different stakeholders and the ability to transform even the most creative and futuristic concepts into concrete design solutions. The relationship of trust established with the client is evidenced by other important collaborations, such as the one for the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo in Arese.