Bologna City Council’s new office complex designed by architect Mario Cucinella brings under one roof the town hall’s 1,500 employees formerly scattered over the city in some 21 separate locations.
The new office complex is part of a wider urban revitalisation plan to reconnect this slightly peripheral neighbourhood, site of the former wholesale fruit and vegetable market, with the old town centre immediately beyond the main railway tracks. The large single complex comprises three buildings - two 11-storey and one 6-storey blocks - each earmarked for different activities. They become a single complex thanks to a sunbreaker canopy, an entrance atrium stretching across four floors, and the sloping landscaped forecourt. The canopy hovers above the buildings like a giant origami and has the double function of providing solar protection and architectural cohesion to the whole complex.
Façades and interiors are by Teleya and Methis, the two industrial divisions of Coopsette. Methis was contracted to furnish the 28 floors of office space, supplying more than 11,000 sq m of partition walling, 7,000 sq m of equipped walls and 1500 workstations.
Evowork partitions were used in the various areas of the new city council offices. Highly flexible, the system blends with internal and external architectural features creating dynamic, amenable working areas. The partitions are also part of the architect’s distinctive colour scheme of blue, orange, light blue and aquamarine that makes for varied and pleasant environments.
Senior management offices and meeting areas were furnished with the Delta Executive collection. The distinctive triangular-section design of all articles - tables, stand-alone units, bookshelves and consoles - means they can be combined as required. The diverse finishes include ceramic, wood, colour-backed crystal glass, chromed and lacquered steel. Modular Deltawork workstations were fitted in all operative areas, in configurations ranging from the single workstation to multiple systems with integrated filing units. Deltawork’s versatility guarantees functional operative systems for a range of needs including solutions where space is a premium or where personal interaction is the prime requirement.
To complete the workstations, Methis supplied more than 4,000 “Ivy” chairs whose Technogel padding for seats and armrests takes the body’s shape and guarantees correct body-weight distribution, improving blood circulation and spine movements to the advantage of the sitter’s posture.
Methis managed its production and installation plan in close collaboration with the MCA practice, which enabled contract completion in compliance with the client’s tight schedule.
METHIS
Via Ligabue, 2
I - 42040 Caprara di Campegine (RE)
Tel. +39 0522 904711 Fax +39 0522 904810
E-mail: [email protected]www.methis.com
