Agricultural Pavilion Bressanella | a25architetti

Bressanella Agricultural Pavilion is located in Besana, in Brianza, which is one of the most densely populated areas
in Italy and Europe, where land has been consumed to commercial and residential uses at sky-high rates. In this
context, a small farm has yet decided to bet on sustainable and ethical values, against mainstream trends being
part of the Short Food Supply Chain thus enabling a closer relationship between producers and consumers.
Therefore the key concepts of the project are state-of-the-art technology, sustainability and a “short” productionconsumption
configuration. The pavilion has a simple architectural shape, in which two volumes slightly rotated
between them follow the natural configuration of the land, supported by a basement that also acts like an “edge”
for the rear slope.
Water and sunlight are the main elements that trigger the whole process of sustainability. Water on one side
feeds the fields; organic fruit and vegetables are grown, harvested and then sold to the customers. Sunlight on
the other side feeds the technological plant of the farm enabling the energy efficiency of the pavilion.

The building's north-south orientation provides opportunity to maximize the solar gain during the winter months
and minimize the solar gain during the summer months. This can keep an adequate microclimate according to the
seasonal temperatures, optimizing energy consumption for heating and cooling. The pavilion is equipped with a
heat pump and a photovoltaic system. Rainwater is channeled into two storage tanks and used for irrigation of
the fields.
The project rationally uses simple materials such as concrete, wood and iron.
The southern façade builds a light front with the rhythm given by the vaults of the reinforced concrete porticos.
They are made with board-formed concrete. The texture concrete gets with this process reminds us of the
irregular walls typical of peasant houses. Such texture shows a light and shadow play depending on the irradiation
and the reflected light.
The walls are made of Porotherm thermo bricks and lime-based rough plaster. The interior flooring was conceived
in polished concrete in order to give a rural and simple perception. The whole building originates from the ground
and there aren’t any other floored spaces all around the pavilion, as a result the building and the surrounding
nature maintain their connection. Each room is characterized by a wooden roof conceived as a large "hat" that
builds and preserves the spaces below.
The first rectangular-shaped volume houses the shop with the cold storage room, alongside there’s a free space
for a wide range of use, a double-facing room; through a large window, it is possible to perceive the cultivated
fields southwards and the cherry and chestnut trees of the underlying wood northwards. The second volume
houses all the service spaces, the toilets next to the multifunctional space, a small office, the processing room,
and the changing rooms for the employees.