Metrogramma and Chapman Taylor on the waterfront of Ravenna

Studies Milanese Metrogramma B & F and Chapman Taylor Architects designed a new neighborhood of 50 thousand square meters along the waterfront of Ravenna. This is the big speech of urban transformation of a historic area owned by CMC (Cooperativa Muratori Cementisti Ravenna) with which you start that path of conversion of productive areas of the docks that people waiting for years. Separately responsible for the design of new housing (Metrogramma) and the transformation of the seat in a shopping complex (Chapman Taylor), two studies are now working together to create a real new neighborhood. The ‘structured program provides for a mix of functions: not only the relocation of offices CMC, but also the creation of commercial spaces, areas for dining, a segment for the campground and squares, parks and bike paths.
The goal is to provide a place open to return to the city with services and public spaces. The transaction value is 150 million. Expected to work about two years starting in 2011.

The axis which distributes the current offices will become a CMC Boulevard gallery “open to the city. The building of industrial archeology, the composition of a “nave” center and two “wings” side shows a strong architectural identity, has changed in the middle to allow the construction of a second tertiary level above the business plan that is developed ground floor. The cannot is through the construction of some glass prisms juxtaposed enabling the entry of natural light in the tunnel.

The volumes of new construction are prepared to comb the axis perpendicular and parallel to the tunnel canal dock. The result is a whole new geometry that draws from the historical building and new volumes a large public square overlooked by restaurants, shops and public spaces.

On the western edge of the area, along the Via Zara, will develop the ERP system of the residences with their green spaces. Again, new structures were placed at right angles to the main axis of the walk.
Landmark project will be a 70 meter high tower that will rise on the front of Channel Candiano along with a plate and a linear building. While the tower is a distinguishing feature on the new “waterfront”, the plate generates a series of terraces and squares who want to maximize the view over the canal as a place of encounter and exchange.

“The main construction material – says Andrea Boschetti Metrogramma and Alessandro Stroligo Chapman Taylor Architects – will just cement saw the name and features the original buyer of the cooperative, which will be presented in a contemporary prefabrication through advanced energy efficient . The buildings will be covered with concrete panels and tinted glass. In this way it turns opaque and transparent, volumetric masses and voids in a game where size and scale become secondary variables.

“The project – add the architects – Ravenna offer the opportunity of tomorrow’s most important value to a magical place like the Town Dock, a new piece of contemporary city full of new services, public spaces and green. The project will emphasize, in fact, the idea of breaking the fences production through a project that aims to make completely through the area. At the heart of the idea of a great public space as a main symbol of the reconquest of collective land for the city. Certainly this is a great opportunity to put the center of the targets, as well as the interests of a company, of a whole community. “