Valle d'Aosta University Campus | MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects

"The Valle d'Aosta University campus is an example of how architecture can interact with the territory, respecting the past while opening new spaces for sharing in the future. The recovery of the former Testafochi Barracks is not only urban regeneration but is also an opportunity to create a new cultural and educational reference point for the city of Aosta. This project demonstrates how it is possible to combine historical memory with an innovative vision capable of meeting the community's needs and the environmental challenges of our time" - Mario Cucinella, Founder & Design Director of MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects.

****

Recovering a site for new cultural activities

Located in a central area near Aosta's historic centre, MCA's project focuses on conserving and repurposing the existing main buildings of the former Testafochi Barracks, and the construction of a university campus.

Whilst the project is strongly recognisable as a landmark in present-day Aosta, it respects the plan arrangement of the original system but revolutionises the whole area by opening it up to the city. The buildings are designed to contain spaces for teaching, and shared activities for the various faculties, which can accommodate approximately 2000 students. The new project enhances the cultural activities by expanding the heritage of green areas and integrating them to form a system that passes across the city.

Contemporary architecture that collaborates with the landscape

The project for the new university campus in Aosta exemplifies how it is possible to conceive of a contemporary architecture that collaborates with the landscape and the climate. Our choice of the iceberg as an inspiration for the project is not an arbitrary or a merely formal gesture.

On one hand, its colours and features establish a strong link with the snow-covered alpine landscape, departing from the austere rigidity of the former military barracks. On the other hand, they give rise to a form that guarantees excellent energy performance.

Within the university there is a focus on an organisational model in which the new building, inspired by the structural patterns observed in plant organisms, possesses its own inherent functional autonomy. 

The former Zerboglio Building

The project comprises four above-ground levels (ground floor, first, second, and third floor) and two basement levels.

Where the facades are close to the teaching spaces, they gradually become less dense from the first level upwards. This variation in the geometric features and the materials used depends on the level and orientation, and optimises the penetration and modulation of natural daylight. On the other hand, where the facade is adjacent to the main university square, the skin is deformed and compacted so that it integrates as much as possible, effectively transforming a part of the facade of the new building into an element of urban embellishment.

The functions of the former Zerboglio Building

The cafeteria, and the entrance to the Main Hall were deliberately placed on the ground floor near the ends. This decision enhances access to the square by making the ground floor visually and physically "permeable". 

There are teaching rooms at all the above-ground levels, all looking towards the city.

All the plantrooms, services ducts, and maintenance spaces are at the basement levels, together with a number of educational functions.

Two computer laboratories are at level -1. They receive natural daylight and ventilation from a large patio/courtyard excavated out of the large surface of the piazza, next to the new building.

The Main Hall, which seats up to 176 people, is at level -2.

Opening up this previously enclosed site to the city means not just uncovering its historical military significance but also providing the city with new spaces for sharing and living.

The facade system

In terms of the building's recognisability and its interaction with the external spaces, the facade system is undoubtedly the most defining element.

This system is handled differently on the city-facing side as opposed to the side facing the piazza. On the piazza side, adjacent to the circulation spaces, a framed enclosure was created, consisting of metal strips and horizontal boxes made from Betacryl acrylic stone. These elements form the supporting structure for the glazed and opaque sections of the facade, while also acting as an effective solar screening system.

The structure of the building consists of large reinforced concrete floors supported on a series of reinforced concrete walls. As well as enabling the creation of spacious areas without the need for supporting elements, this solution also provided an advantage in how the classrooms are positioned.

Environmental strategies

Analysing the typical climatic conditions of the location was fundamental for constructing a climate-responsive building.

By identifying the potential of the site and such critical issues as sun paths, shadow dynamics, and exposure to the prevailing winds, we designed a solution that provides effective protection against extreme weather conditions whilst exploiting the environmental resources to support its operation.

Our analysis of solar radiation at the site showed that it was shaded by the southern slope of the valley, particularly in winter.

Optimisation of the form therefore suggested a solution in which the presence of the new buildings only minimally affects the amount of sunlight falling on the surrounding buildings, if at all. 

The high daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations, combined with the factors mentioned above, guided us to design volumetric shapes that maximise compactness and are very well thermally insulated.

The integrated design of the enclosures and building services will ensure that the buildings have low energy consumption while simultaneously utilising renewable sources.

Credits

General information

Client: SIV - Société Infrastructures Valdôtaines

Place: Aosta, Italy

Year: 2024

Area: 52,000 sqm (total site area), approx. 7,500 sqm (above-ground floor area of the former Zerboglio building)

Project team

Mario Cucinella

Project Director: Giulio Desiderio

Project Leader: Donato Labella

Design Leader: Michele Olivieri

Architects: Fabrizio Bonatti, Lucrezia Rendace, Julissa Gutarra, Nada Balestri, David Hirsh, Rigoberto Arambula, Luca Stramigioli, Davide Stolfi, Giulia Pentella, Alberto Bruno

Modelling Unit Manager: Yuri Costantini

Architectural project partners: Studio Pession Associato, Tetrastudio, Studio Rosset e Associati

Structural engineering design: Sintecna Srl

Building services engineering design: Golder Associates, Metec & Saggese, Energy Services

Fire safety and security design: Giuseppe Amaro, Engineer

Visuals: Engram Studio

Photography: Duccio Malagamba

NUV – Nuova Università Valdostana ha bandito nel 2010 un concorso pubblico per la realizzazione dalla Nuova Università di Aosta. Il bando richiedeva il recupero e la trasformazione di una superficie complessiva di 56.302 m2 dell’Ex Caserma Testafochi,  nell’area situata in un’importante e nevralgica fascia di territorio urbano a ridosso del centro storico.

L’intervento, pensato da MCA, prevede la conservazione e il recupero dei principali corpi di fabbrica esistenti e la realizzazione di tre nuovi edifici che, pur rispettando l’impostazione planimetrica dell’impianto originale, rivoluzionano l’intera area, aprendola alla città e ospitando nella maniera più efficiente gli spazi destinati alla didattica e alle attività comuni delle diverse facoltà, in maniera da rispondere a tutte le esigenze funzionali richieste (l’università dovrà accogliere 2000 studenti) e allo stesso tempo, in modo da renderlo fortemente riconoscibile come Landmark della città contemporanea di Aosta. Il nuovo intervento rafforza le attività culturali, estende il patrimonio di aree verdi e lo integra fino a costituire un sistema che attraversa la Città. Nell’università è privilegiata l’organizzazione per funzioni, ogni edificio è pertanto dotato di propria autonomia funzionale. Il primo dei quattro lotti previsti contempla la demolizione della Caserma Ex Zerboglio e la realizzazione di uno dei due edifici in cui si svolgerà la didattica.  

Strategie ambientali. Il progetto prevede l’impiego di un mix di tecnologie con l’utilizzo di fonti energetiche rinnovabili (pompa di calore ad acqua di falda, caldaie a condensazione, fotovoltaico, solare termico), l’utilizzo di macchinari e dispositivi ad alto rendimento, sistema di recupero totale del calore, sistema di riscaldamento degli ambienti a bassa temperatura costituito da pannelli radianti a pavimento o soffitto così come interventi di isolamento termico dell’involucro delle palazzine esistenti e un sistema di recupero delle acque piovane. La progettazione integrata degli involucri e degli impianti ha permesso di garantire un basso consumo energetico degli edifici e il contemporaneo utilizzo di fonti energetiche rinnovabili, ottimizzando il rapporto costi/benefici, di garantire l’ottimizzazione delle prestazioni energetiche e di mantenere un elevato standard di qualità ambientale dei locali. 

Luogo: Aosta, Italia

Anno: 2011

Cliente: NUV – Nuova Università Valdostana

Superficie: 30.320 mq  fuori terra  - 22.000 mq interrato

Progetto: Mario Cucinella Architects con Pession Studio Associato, Sintecna (strutture), Golder (impianti), Tetrastudio, rA – Studio Rosset e Associati, Ing. Giuseppe Amaro (sicurezza prevenzione incendi).

Team MCA: Mario Cucinella, Julissa Gutarra (responsabile di progetto), Riccardo Minghini, Michele Olivieri, Nada Balestri, David Hirsh, Rigoberto Arambula, Fabrizio Bonatti, Alberto Casarotto, Luca Sandri, Luca Stramigioli, Agnese Pirani, Caterina Pirani, Giulia Pentella, Alberto Bruno, Yuri Costantini (modellista). 

Strutture: Sintecna srl

Ingegneria Elettrica e Meccanica: Golder Associates srl – Metec & Saggese – Energy Services

Acustica: Onleco srl

Sicurezza e Antincendio: Ing. Giuseppe G. Amaro

Coord. progettazione: Mario Cucinella Architects

Rendering: Engram Studio