Project
Vittorio Grassi Architects
Client
Fondazione RI.MED
Period
2011 Design Competition
Gross Floor Area
27.500 sqm
Structural Design
Schlaich Bergermann und Partners GmbH
Environmental Design
Transsolar GmbH
Services Design
Ai Engineering srl
The main objective of the project is to offer a comprehensive, unified, and expanded vision of the intervention, based on a balance between public and private spaces, green areas and paved surfaces, built volumes and open spaces. The masterplan is conceived as an integrated system capable of fostering relationships, exchange, and cultural cooperation among researchers and users of the complex.
Starting from this principle, the project defines a clear hierarchy of public spaces, articulated in different functions and scales. The carefully calibrated alternation between greenery and paved areas generates a sequence of true outdoor “rooms,” designed not only for daily activities but also for public events, meetings, and moments of shared interaction.
The complex is organized into three main blocks of five to six stories, oriented along the north–south axis to ensure optimal exposure and privileged views toward the sea. The buildings, intended for office architecture and institutional functions, are shaped with a dynamic, asymmetrical, and fluid form capable of following the natural slope of the terrain and engaging with the surrounding landscape.
A unifying element of the project is the large lightweight roof that envelops the buildings and protects the central square from extreme weather conditions. This shading envelope is composed of photovoltaic modules, which serve a dual purpose: providing shelter and contributing to energy production from renewable sources, reinforcing the project’s sustainable approach.
The smooth, hydrodynamic form of the architectural ensemble recalls that of a pair of Mediterranean fish, a metaphor that reinterprets elements of local tradition and landscape in a contemporary language. The south-oriented photovoltaic canopy thus becomes a connective element between the main boulevard and the surrounding hills, integrating architecture, public space, and the natural environment.
The project stands as an example of institutional architecture capable of combining spatial quality, environmental sustainability, and formal identity, transforming the complex into a recognizable, functional place open to the community.
