The mission behind Michela Lageard’s architecture for the biomethane plant in Foligno is a perfect blend of expression and appreciation. The project is guided by a search for compatibility between industry and the landscape. It also reflects a similar commitment to reconcile growth and environmental sustainability by encouraging the landscape to become a new productive model of circular economy. The new plant, inaugurated by Asja in 2018, was designed as a “manifesto” of the potential of the fourth industrial revolution where, from the perspective of a smart vision of environmental transformation processes, economy rhymes with ecology. No more radical, indiscriminate consumerism. On the contrary, an awareness of the relationship between the environment and development, to which Lageard and Asja have given shape and content by creating a new biomethane production plant using organic waste. This shows that economic development in the Third Millennium cannot ignore industry’s ecological advance and the new, low carbon content economy that uses renewable energy to transform waste into new resources.

The construction of the plant is the result of the commitment of institutions, operators and designers, who shared the long authorisation process, and proved that collaboration between the public and private sectors, together with the citizens’ active participation, can give concrete, effective and sustainable responses to the needs of the territory. In fact, the initial phases of the project established a dialogue to involve the local community. This culminated in a Council, in which citizens, associations and institutions took part to monitor and provide information. A shared approach to the project toreflect the desire for conciliation rather than opposition.

The new industrial installation is a strong feature, which cannot be camouflaged, and inevitably makes compatibility with the landscape quite difficult. As a result, Asja appointed the Lageard Architettura studio to identify architectural solutions, which would enable the buildings to blend more easily into the rural landscape. Lageard Architettura took another look at the concept and tackled the design of the building envelopes, reorganised the functions of the interior spaces and the layout of the external spaces.

The external finish of the industrial buildings, which envisaged smooth, full height, vertical panels on a grey, cement caisson base, was improved with mahogany coloured marble-grit panels, divided by false horizontal joints to break the modular rigidness and link with the rugged land within the landscape. Consistent with this solution, the cladding of the main façade of the office block, for which a new, more efficient, internal layout was designed, uses prefabricated panels with a bush-hammered finish and composite wood, brise soleil battens to create a dynamic dialogue between the materials and the surrounding context. The weighing station was reinterpreted as an entrance and reception point. It also abandons the standard solution and acquires its own identity, thanks to a cast-in-situ, concrete cladding, divided by composite wood profiles to match the architecture of the entire complex. In this way, the architecture was able not only to interpret an innovative message of environmental underpinning, but also to add value to the identity of the surrounding areas and their productions. It is expressed in a language, which pays close attention to the relationship between technology and the landscape to transform the building-machine into top quality, industrial architecture.

During construction, although the authorised construction and dimensional specifications remained unaltered, some architectural solutions were identified that would allow the buildings to fit in more harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Therefore, the smooth, grey exterior finish with caisson foundation was replaced with a mahogany coloured, marble-grit finish and false horizontal joints were inserted to break the rigid, modular construction and give it a more natural, organic feel. The “rough surface” and colour combination contribute to creating a dialogue between the architecture and the landscape.

The authorised project also envisaged the same external cladding for the office block as for the other buildings, consisting of prefabricated panels in reinforced concrete with a smooth, grey, external finish with caisson foundation. The bush-hammered solution with the insertion of a Novowood type of composite wood, brise soleil profile used for the main façade, exploits the variations in colour and texture to evoke the surrounding, rural landscape.

The office block also underwent a functional reorganization of its spaces. The interior was reworked to give more functional solutions, so that the operational area is clearly separated from the reception area to keep the flow of operational staff apart from visitors. Separate access to the reception area from the operational area features two arcaded areas, constructed within the volume of the prefabricated structure.

CREDITS:

Radiografia del contemporaneo - Monograph edited by ilgiornaledell'architettura.com

 Sesiers edited by Cristina Donati                                                                                               Texts: Cristina Donati                                                                                                           Editorial coordiantion: Laura Milan                                                                                               Ph: Fabio Oggero   

 https://bit.ly/2K6HDXI                                                                                                                 https://bit.ly/3bdo23Z

On 26 September, at the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity, we had an event, organized by the non-profit organization “Minori e Futuro”, which saw the involvement of Chef Matteo Baronetto of Del Cambio restaurant. This event allowed to gather the resources necessary to include more small children, coming from fragile families, in educational facilities dedicated to them.

The dinner also offered an opportunity for students attending the professional diploma course "restaurant and bar service technician" at the Salotto Fiorito training agency in Rivoli, engaging them in the retsaurant service. The opportunity to work one evening with one of the greatest Italian chefs was a rewarding professional experience for these guys and an important credit to spend on their future.

The Minori e Futuro Association is dedicated to develop projects aimed at educative and personal growth with an in-depth knowledge of needs.

For the childhoods, the association, in collaboration with the "Mother and child coordination" and the volunteers, allows a continuous school attendance, with a personalized educational project, for children from fragile families.

For school-age children the goal is to help both Italian and foreign children by supporting all educational activities that help them to develop individual attitudes. The courses of music therapy, dance and sports activities are fundamental elements in a path of integration and development.

To help foreign alone minors, the  “Nuova Aurora” community is the key point of reference for its long and consolidated experience, which over the years has allowed the integration and individual growth of generations of children.

Lageard Architettura has enthusiastically contributed to this initiative by taking care of the graphic part, from the choice of the compositional elements to the layout. Specifically: a descriptive brochure was developed on a horizontal A4 in three columns and which contains all the information related to the event and the promoting association; a 60x75 cm panel printed on a rigid support used exclusively to mention the sponsors who contributed to the realization of the evening; the nameplates in square format 7x7 cm, which complete the graphic proposal, providing to the participant an original and useful element.

The contents of the graphics are intended to show a laid table, with a visual continuity given by the dishes divided in half, in order to resume the elegance and finesse typical of the Del Cambio restaurant. The soft and light colors aim to not weigh down the composition that in some parts is emphasized by the use of the association logo and the wine-colored lettering.

M argherita is a sculptor, a special person with uncommon sensitivity and energy, appreciated in the years for the quality of her wonderful work but also for the extraordinary message of serenity, peace and sweetness transmitted by her Raku clay creatures. The delicacy of the shapes in her artworks, the care for the details and the choice of the colors have enchanted many people; ultimately in particular a love between Turin and the roman artist is born.
The first Turinese stop of Margherita’s dolls was my office in Turin where it was looked up from some collectors and recently the second stop has been the magic park of Villa Sassi where some clay children was chatting, having sun and relax on the grass.
In this occasion, there was a meeting between two professionals of the beauty: Margherita Grasselli and Michela Lageard, this one working on the refurbishment of Villa Sassi, a real landmark for Turin. At the first view of Margherita’s sculptures, the architect and her son Giovanni remained enchanted and so she proposed to me and she to organize an event in her studio garden, near the hill of Turin.
The real catalyst element of this amazing party has been Giovanni, the Michela’s son, that with his enthusiasm and smile has inspired Margherita to sculpt for the first time in Turin a kid of a son instead of a daughter. So Giovanni is born, that will debut in the gardens of Lageard Architettura, one of the most appreciated offices in the city, particularly for the research of new interior and outdoor environments, destined to be enhanced with artworks. A special thanks to Margherita for her commitment and to Michela for her hospitality, with the guarantee that in the Lageard’s garden on 12th June we will breathe a special air, a mix of art, nature and love for the beauty.