MULTIPURPOSE HALL IN CANELLI
LOCATION Canelli, Asti, Italy
YEAR 2017
THEME Architecture, Sport spaces, Multipurpose hall
STATUS Competition
DESIGNERS Tomaso Monestiroli, Luca Cardani
TEAM Ciro Marco Musella, Jennifer Nespoli
The call for bids called for a multipurpose space dedicated to cultural activities to be built in a significant location in the city of Canelli, in the center of the main square once occupied by the Foro Boario that was demolished during the 20th century. The disappearance of the old Foro Boario, also known as the Ala, which regulated housing alignments to
definition of a large public space, left an urban and cultural void in the city. The Ala was a basilica-shaped building 49 meters long by 15 meters wide, intended mainly for market activity, which manifested through its extraordinary character its role as a place of public and social sharing within the city.
La scelta principale del progetto è stata quella di affidare al tipo
of the classroom, as a collective, covered and undivided place, the architectural and urban solution of the multipurpose space, confirming the location and role historically played by the Wing in the current Piazza Gancia, as a gateway from the south to the city. The new classroom is placed slightly shifted to the west, to build at the same time a new urban front on Piazza Cavour, enhancing the ideal perspective space toward the historic center dominated by Castello Gancia, and to give the east side of the square a measure more appropriate to the scale of urban spaces. The hall thus becomes an opportunity to articulate the urban space in different places defined by the unitary character of its architecture placed in a barycentric position. The orientation of the wall partitions defining the long sides and the two C-shaped walls of the north and south fronts emphasize the connection through the classroom between Piazza Cavour and Piazza Gancia, as a covered square that connects and separates them.
The building is then entrusted with representing the character of the civic hall. The building is defined by a perimeter of wall elements clad in face brick to emphasize its public purpose and civic value, and is topped by a large wooden roof resting on them. The solidity of the masonry partitions describes the enclosure and accesses to the building, while the transparency of the large wooden roof resting on them defines the volume of the hall as a place of meeting and gathering of the entire citizenry, open to relations with the territory.
The internal character of the large void of the classroom free of clutter allows, through its arrangement, to host the most diverse activities, while outside, the unified building, thanks to its size and location, takes on the role of an urban stage machine that welcomes and represents the festive and meeting moments of the city.
IN
IDENTITÀ DELL’ARCHITETTURA ITALIANA N19 2021
L. Cardani (edit by) Studio Monestiroli Opere e progetti di Architettura Electa Milan 2021