Innovation, wellness, and sustainability are the core values of Culligan, an international company specializing in water filtration systems. And all three are reflected in its new Italian headquarters, which recently opened in Bologna.
Designed by Open Project in the city’s exhibition precinct, Culligan’s headquarters was, as Giulio Giampieri, president of Culligan Italiana, explains, conceived to “meet the evolving needs of the workplace.” The interiors were designed to encourage interpersonal relationships, a sense of inclusivity, and a feeling of community, with the design team paying particular attention to employee comfort and respect for the environment.
Between 2021 and 2024, the use of home water filtration systems doubled, increasing from 19 to 38.6%. What part has Culligan had in this cultural shift towards sustainable living?
"Culligan has played, and continues to play, an important role in this process of raising community awareness. We’ve had a presence in Italy for over 60 years and are a leader in the home water filtration industry. We promote cultural change for a more sustainable world through our role in the evolution of Italian consumer habits. And in recent years, we’ve stepped up our efforts to educate and inform. Our filtration systems offer a guarantee of safe, high-quality water, while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact of single-use plastics. Globally, Culligan’s figures are impressive: with over 155 million customers, we reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bottles by 40 billion units every year, reduce the use of plastics by over 600 million kilograms, and cut five billion kilograms off CO₂ emissions".
What role does the new Bologna headquarters play in this?
"We have a close connection to Italy and have had a presence here since 1962. Following the sale of our industrial branch and the Cadriano factory, the new HQ in Bologna is a turning point for Culligan, both as regards Italy and for our evolution at the global level.
The new headquarters consolidates Culligan’s role as a leader in the water filtration market in Italy and serves as a strategic hub for plotting our growth here. The Bologna headquarters supports the increasingly widespread distribution of our domestic and commercial products. It also bolsters our already excellent level of customer service, with over 1000 employees in Italy, including over 400 in customer care.
Financially, the opening reflects Culligan’s strength and growth in Italy, with our 2023 turnover of 220 million euros up 10% on the previous year. Bologna has therefore become the operational nerve center for promoting innovative and sustainable solutions that reflect the expectations of a market that’s increasingly concerned about water quality and environmental protection".
How does the Bologna headquarters reflect the company’s core values of innovation, well-being and environmental responsibility?
"It’s a modern and accessible office building, whose design was informed both by the image of flowing water and Culligan’s commitment to sustainability. Innovative technologies and eco-friendly practices have significantly reduced the building’s environmental footprint.
The value of our new headquarters goes far beyond the functional aspect. Our architects, Open Project, designed the building with advanced architectural and technological strategies to reduce environmental impact and promote the well-being of the people who work there. It was conceived to inspire connection and inclusion, with a design that prioritizes people’s comfort and needs. A feature of the architecture is the way it provides spaces that encourage interaction, while still adhering to the principles of sustainability.
The architects’ attention to detail is obvious in the way they incorporated sound-absorbing partitions to improve acoustics, and ceiling and wall panels that enhance comfort levels. Our new headquarters is actually a redevelopment of an existing building that incorporates the latest energy saving technologies. The furnishings were carefully selected to minimize the use of plastic, while every detail – from the recycling stations to the internal biophilic green spaces – reflects our genuine commitment to sustainability".
>>> Also discover the new Headquarters of Open Project firm in Bologna
Location: Bologna, Italy
Completion: 2024
Area: 1400 m2
Client: Culligan Italiana
Architect: Open Project
Photography by Gabriele Basilico, courtesy of Culligan