Following a ‘slow architecture’ approach, focused on developing projects with a reduced ecological footprint, which survive the passage of time and draw resources from the context for their definition, Frigerio Design Group has given architectural form to the Langhe. Abstract geometries in the warm colours of an autumn landscape, opacity and transparency, placed between sky and earth, are the extreme synthesis of the project. The primary goal of properly accommodating the company’s distinct functions, where workshop and offices coexist, has been resolved in a simple and linear structure, where the technical parts and systems are integrated into the facades or hidden within the Technical Mezzanine, providing a renewed image of the factory stereotype full of pipes and facilities.

Starting from the large full-height entrance hall, entirely glazed, where employees and visitors enter, one is greeted by a spectacular intense red metal staircase that crosses the building’s volume like a sort of covered walkway. From here, it is possible to observe some activities carried out in the heart of the company, as the windows of the mezzanines, the experimentation rooms, the meeting offices, and the staff relaxation area overlook the triple-height hall. The structure is then completed by a flat and projecting roof that extends to the south with a light canopy and a sunshade with elliptical blades, to protect the offices from sunlight.

Environmental sustainability is one of the project’s priorities, which, bioclimatic and nZEB– nearly Zero Energy Building – certified, has been developed to minimize carbon dioxide emissions. The total volume is compact, made with industrial materials mostly assembled dry, to maximize passive contributions – air, light, and sun exposure – and limit maintenance resources. The photovoltaic system on the roof guarantees an energy production of up to 300 kW, while the opposing openings allow natural ventilation in the mid-seasons. The offices are air-conditioned with ceiling radiant systems that activate at 40°, instead of the usual 70°, and also serve sound-absorbing functions. The light pollution of the external parking lots is controlled by an intelligent system that activates only in the presence of traffic. Finally, the last piece of a truly avant-garde project, great attention has also been paid to the issue of waste. This is why the individual workstations are not equipped with bins, but rather a centralized and differentiated management system has been devised, actively involving employees in the reflection on the theme.