Via Maj 30: social innovation and urban regeneration
Sergio Camerlenghi e Gabriele Pimpini
Housing
/
Completed
Sergio Camerlenghi, Gabriele Pimpini
Social Housing via maj 30
Location Italia - Bergamo
Designer Sergio Camerlenghi & Gabriele Pimpini
Project Year 2015 | 2020
Photos By Roberto Marossi
The concept: social innovation and urban regeneration
In 2015, the Morzenti Onlus no-profit foundation of Bergamo embarked on an important social and real estate project named “via Maj 30”, with the aim of providing a home to those in a situation of vulnerability. The project was concluded in 2020 with the inauguration of an architectural entity for social housing. An example of technological innovation and environmental sustainability for the requalification of a degraded urban fragment.
The client and the main actors
The Morzenti Onlus foundation, which fully funded the project, was born with the objective of conjugating architecture and social commitment. It developed the project in close cooperation with the municipality of Bergamo and learned from the examples of similar developments in the metropoly of Milan.
The appointed architects are Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini, who are well acquainted with the reality of Bergamo. The foundation chose La Bonne Semence and Casa Amica Foundation as the social operators who are responsible for the use of the complex and for the interface with the users.
The architecture
The building is located in the 20th-century centre of Bergamo and offers views on Cittá Alta, a precious gem of Italian urbanism from the Middle Ages. The plot was previously occupied by a petrol station and thus it was completely decontaminated before construction.
The new structure is developed on six floors and spreads in two perpendicular directions. The first volume is aligned with the adjacent buildings and gives continuity to the streetscape of via Maj. The second volume extends perpendicularly to the first one and is characterised by walkways and shared spaces. Both bodies have a stepped cross-section, allowing for terraces that frame the unique views on Cittá Alta.
The street façade is recognisable by the coloured glass of the balconies. These vivid colours are a dominant esthetic element of the architecture. They express brightness and vitality, and at the same time strengthen the feeling of belonging for the inhabitants through the colour-coding of the different apartments.
The building contains 23 apartments which vary from 30 to 70 m2. Special attention was given to prioritise socialisation among the dwellers by carefully designing the shared spaces and introducing large terraces and greenery. Moreover, all the apartments share a common laundry room. Beyond the residential function, the building hosts in its plinth four medical clinics, a social cooperative and a polyfunctional room at the disposal of the residents of the neighbourhood and of the city.
Out of the 23 apartments, 7 are allocated to neurodiverse individuals, while the remaining 23 are rented to households with a situation of economic fragility: young couples, migrant families, students, etc.
Technological innovation
The main structure, vertical and horizontal load-bearing and separating elements, is constructed in laminated timber. Only the basement and ground floor have a reinforced concrete structure.
The choice of timber is pioneering towards the environmental transition of construction technology in Italy, as it drastically reduces the embodied energy compared to traditional structures. Furthermore, the pre-fabrication of the structure allows for a more efficient building process. The whole timber load-bearing structure was realised by only three workers over 90 days. Energy optimisation of the building is achieved through photovoltaic energy production and high-efficiency floor heating powered by the district heating. All apartments belong to energy class A and are gas-free.
Construction companies
The two main constructors involved were Cividini Ing. & Co. Ltd. and Rubner Holzbau Ltd.
Cividini was responsible for the building services and the constructions in concrete, steel and glass; while Rubner took care of the roof, the façades and the timber-work.
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Via Maj 30. Façade on Via Angelo Mai
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Façade on Via Angelo Mai
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Detail main façade
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Façade on internal courtyard
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Detail façade on internal courtyard
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Detail façade on internal courtyard
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Back façade
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Night view of façade on internal courtyard
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Internal corridors
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Internal corridors
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Interior space apartments
Ph: R. Marossi
Via Maj 30. Interior bathroom
Ph: R. Marossi
Context plan
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Street elevation via Maj
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Ground Floorplan
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Typical apartments floorpan
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Apartment floorpan detail
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Interior bathroom detail
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Axonometry of structure
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Detail stairwell
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Main façade
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Side façade
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Section on main façade
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Longitudinal section on descending main façade
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Section on external corridors
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Section and elevation of external corridors
Sergio Camerlenghi and Gabriele Pimpini
Combination drawing of greenery on external corridors
Bergamo
Italia
Fondazione Morzenti Onlus
07/2020
2003 m2
Sergio Camerlenghi e Gabriele Pimpini
Sergio Camerlenghi e Gabriele Pimpini
Cividini Ing. & Co. S.r.l. ; Rubner Holzbau S.p.A.
Roberto Marossi
Curriculum
Resume – Gabriele Pimpini
2018-19 - Collaboration with Studio Talent (Ostuni) for projects of architecture and product design
2017-20 - Design and construction of a clinic in Padua with Claudia Aracci
2014-20 - Design and construction of “ Via Maj 30”. A social housing project in Bergamo. With Sergio Camerlenghi.
2011-17 - Collaboration with Gaetano Pesce in the field of architecture, product design and exhibitions
2005-08 - Design and construction of “Pescetrullo”, Apulia. An experimental house as an architectural art-piece in expanded polyurethane. With Gaetano Pesce.
2002-03 - Collaboration with studio Transit (Rome) for projects in Milan.
1999-2003 - Assistant professor at Ferrara University with Prof. Danilo Guerri
1991-96 - Architect for “Italcementi”, Bergamo
1987-89 - Architect at studio “Danilo Guerri”, Falconara Alta
1987 - Graduation project at IUAV, Venice, with Prof. Gino Valle. Awarded with the highest score (110 e lode)
