Casa della Musica | GEZA - Gri e Zucchi Architettura

A building revisited: building inside a building

A new function (a place for music) for an old – and silent – building (a former bus depot) represents an architectural and a technological challenge, and a poetic content at the same time. A new building now rises inside the old one to include all the structural and technological solutions required. The new building does not alter the former structure, which remains visible and gets more value from this addition.

The existing brick frame helps support the roof cover, while at the same time outlining the entrance, granting consistency with the landmarks of Cervignano (the Cathedral, boundary walls, courtyards, etc.) and entering in a smooth relation with the monolithic exposed concrete of the inner building. Four rehearsal rooms on the ground floor – colourful and sliding like the notes on a pentagram – support a large monolithic cast concrete floor, which outlines all functions. A large double-height area occupies the whole volume of the building and serves as a central space for people to meet and share (total surface 750 sq m).

The technological equipment ensuring sound quality in terms of insulation and soundproofing, as well as the use of new materials, are never excessively exhibited, as the task of controlling the effects of technology is assigned to architecture.

The new reinvented building is meant to change the neighbourhood. The urban character of the façade (facing northward, and therefore entirely open to make the most of natural light) communicates with the surrounding setting: the Square, the Cathedral, the Public Library. Designed to address people of all ages, at any time of the day, from early morning until late at night, the building will accommodate teaching classes, rehearsals, production and recording, as well as concerts, exhibitions and cultural events at local or extra-regional level. An ideal meeting place for youngsters, the Music Hall will however attract also children and elderly people who wish to learn or just listen to music. The communal quality of the Music Hall is highlighted by its see-through front and urban scale: giant window frames jut out, as if they wished to belong to the public space and city life.

Energy management system: integrated remote control

All installations were agreed with the Municipal Government of Cervignano, where energy supply of all public buildings is controlled in accordance with an integrated plan. The collaboration of the Municipal Government and the Project Team in all respects (building insulation, efficiency of materials and cost control) helped reach a shared pattern of solutions consistent with the cost and maintenance budget, concerning not only the Music Hall but also the collective use of other public buildings (schools, offices, surgeries, sports halls, etc.). The energy requirement of a  public building (at different hours and on different days) can have a remarkable impact on the supply of other buildings. This way, the solutions were targeted to serve a town-oriented purpose, besides the energy performance of the new building, following the notion of integrated sustainability, which is still poorly implemented in Italy today.