CITY DOCKLAND | Chiara Rizzi

Ravenna is an historical city close to the sea, famous for its cultural attractions particulary its mosaics. The project area is strategically located in the east part of the city, well linked with the center and the seaside. This area is interesting because it is the central focus of urban planning for the city’s future growth. Ravenna’s climate is similar to the sub-continental one in the inland areas, while along the coast there is the influence of the sea, but with high rates of humidity. Winters are generally cold, sometimes harsh with persistent fog due to thermal contrasts and polar air driven by the Bora winds, when snow is also possible. Spring and autumn are very mild, but sometimes moderately rainy; summertime is usually hot and muggy, with a light breeze along the coast. The project starts from a single volume, linked with the preserved existing building of industrial archaeology, creating a compact façade that faces onto the dockland water. This solid volume is broken down to give the final shape of the building. First of all, the building is divided into two main blocks, the commercial area on the ground floor and the residential one on the upper floors. The ground floor becomes articulated by passages linking the public promenade with the park behind so as to give people access to the whole area, whilst the housing part is divided into smaller volumes, according to the flats’ dimensions, thus creating a sense of movement in the façade. The building is designed using passive strategies, such as natural ventilation and shading systems, and a geothermal system for heating, cooling and DHW that makes the heating energy demand equal zero kWhtep/m2y. In addition, the use of pv cells on the roof covers all the residential electrical needs. The natural lighting in the building has been studied in the Environment Park in Turin, using the artificial sky.