Braccialini HQ | Barberio Colella Architetti

The Graziella Braccialini factory in Scandicci, situated along a major motorway artery in the Florence area, is an industrial building with a problem common to many Italian production sites: a building envelope that conveys nothing of the brand it houses, does not adequately protect the interior spaces from solar radiation and does not offer comfortable working conditions. The ‘Braccialini Front Wall’ design competition, organised by Graziella Holding in collaboration with the Fondazione Architetti Firenze, called for precisely this: to rethink the building’s identity starting from the facade, transforming an anonymous warehouse into a recognisable landmark.

Barberio Colella Architetti’s proposal tackles the problem on two simultaneous levels: identity and performance. The building is wrapped in a white aluminium drape which, like a new skin, abandons the rigidity of the metal through folding operations and forms soft horizontal waves. The bands open up at the windows, maintaining transparency where needed and providing protection where necessary. The horizontal nature of the forms, emphasised by beams of LED light, creates a new landmark characterised by aerodynamic and contemporary lines, recognisable and clearly visible from the motorway in both directions.

But the facade is not merely about appearance: it is a functional layer. The aluminium panels are perforated with a dense pattern that filters incident solar radiation during the summer, reducing the energy load required for cooling of the interior spaces. The same perforation allows for natural ventilation of the spaces behind the facade. Analyses conducted by the team demonstrate that the solution eliminates glare in the workspaces, whilst preserving the view to the outside. The result is a measurable increase in the comfort and well-being of the occupants — a factor that research links directly to productivity.

The choice of aluminium was guided by criteria of sustainability and practicality: infinitely recyclable without losing its physical and mechanical properties, ductile, lightweight, resistant to oxidation and non-combustible. The division of the facade into modular panels follows the existing metal structure, anchoring itself without any additional substructure to ensure quick and easy installation. The overall thickness of the installation is just 50 centimetres. The project was developed by Micaela Colella (team leader), Maurizio Barberio and Angelo Figliola as part of the ideas competition organised by Graziella Holding.

Technical specifications

·       Client: Graziella Holding Spa — ‘Braccialini Front Wall’ design competition (in collaboration with Fondazione Architetti Firenze)

·       Typology: Facade refurbishment — Headquarters

·       Status: Competition entry

·       Designers: Micaela Colella (lead designer), Maurizio Barberio, Angelo Figliola

·       Main materials: Perforated aluminium (facade panels), integrated LEDs