New corporate headquarters
The new building designed for Roda Forge s.p.a. is part of a context of company renewal to face the growing increase in the company’s international clientele. The old prefabricated building was completely demolished to be replaced by a new steel and glass structure.
We thought of a light structure, almost completely glazed, in contrast both structurally and chromatically with the existing volumes. The interior, in the common areas, has a double height. The vertical connections are guaranteed by a glazed elevator and by a metal staircase with parapets in the same materials that continue on the upper balcony.
On the ground floor, in addition to the reception, technical offices and a meeting room have been inserted, while the executive and administrative offices are on the first floor. The large internal vertical space is interrupted by the “diagonal” insertion of a volume positioned at an intermediate level with the function of a meeting room: a discete space where you can receive the most important customers completely detached from the production module. This volume, characterized by sloping walls, is externally covered with aluminium plates with irregular shapes.
On the outside there is a driveway that can also be used by cars to access the main entrance of the building without getting wet in case of rain as it is covered by a large front shelter. The flowerbeds, bordered by simple COR-TEN steel slabs, are partly planted and partly covered with white marble pebbles. Particular attention has been given to the lighting of the entire complex, creating a slight “overabundance” of the lighting fixtures. The adjoining existing shed, located close to the new building, has been covered with a new “skin” of metal panels.
A sort of bamboo frame alternated with a panel covered with a slightly embossed metal mesh.