In our contradictory world, an uncontaminated landscape may be earmarked as the site of a processing plant that provides a livelihood to many in the area and the resultant building is more an iconic self-celebration rather than one that slips honestly in its context; hedonism often wins over commonsense. But it does happen that an architectural project becomes the means of reconciling the many controversial aspects of such a complex situation. Enzo Eusebi’s project for the Salpi cured meat processing plant in the open countryside near Preci (Perugia province) in Italy’s central Umbria region, takes on these contradictions with the realism and pragmatism of the engineer and the vision and sense of experimentation of the architect. As both architect and engineer, Eusebi is equally dedicated to seeking out contemporary architectural solutions and environment friendly ways of building them. His Salpi factory also highlights his preoccupation with worker welfare in the way space is designed to be as occupant friendly as possible. Preci is a small town dating back to the Middle Ages located in the hills straddling the regions of Umbria and Marche in central Italy. The wooded and cultivated slopes and valleys are dotted with many such age-old villages and settlements. In one of these remote valleys between Preci and Castelvecchio, a small business park mars the landscape, the result of some hastily conceived and built land-use plan. This was where the Salpi owners decided to site their cured meat-processing plant that continues a long-standing gastronomic tradition of this area of Norcia. A first priority - imposed by the site itself - was to respect the beautiful landscape with a building that not only fitted into it, but whose sustainability would guarantee it remained that way. The program achieves this by putting most of the factory underground, making the structure appear like an artificial continuation of the nearby hills. Taking his cue from Terragni’s...
Digital
Printed
New Territories: Social Infrastructures
Weiss/Manfredi
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