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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. ECO BAR in Ragusa, Italy by GIUSEPPE GURRIERIMarch 27th, 2016 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: GIUSEPPE GURRIERI The project involves the reuse of the ticket office of the adjacent multisport facility, abandoned since years and its reconversion into a coffee-bistro. The property, owned by the municipality, has been the subject of a call for tenders for the award to private investors, with the aim not only of renovating a run-down but mainly to combine the private’s wishes and aspirations with the public needs by means of a quality planning.  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli
 Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli The formula chosen by the local administration was one of collaboration to provide for the lack of resources. The main goal is to recover the building and simultaneously to improve the quality of the surrounding built-up area in a highly critical neighbourhood. An urban gap between the outskirts of Ragusa and the new expansion areas that are springing up around the city without logic; A very low building density area as a leftover of a residential expansion plan not linked to the pre-existing urban setting.  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli It is a quick transit area where some services for the community persist like the sports facilities (the sports arena, the football stadium, the public swimming-pool and the riding-school), the street market, the schools, the business centre and all their respective huge parking. The wide empty spaces, the low building density and the rare public use (mainly due to occasional events), give to this area the typical features of an urban “non-place”.  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli The only distinctive point of reference is the tower of the municipal water tank that overlooks the building subjected to the action and with its about 30 meters’ height becomes the “flagship” of the area. The public-private strategy is to start a commercial activity to serve all the sports facilities and at the same time accessible to all the new families living in the area; but the true challenge is to create a meeting point for the whole community and to trigger a process of urban regeneration.  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli A survey showed that the building, erected in the late 80’s, has a square plan, a reinforced concrete structure, a flat roof made of brick and concrete, hollow brick infill walls and has openings on all the façades. The project, in compliance with the current regulations and in respect of the budget, involves the realization of an outer skin made of low-cost and reused materials (Aquapanel® panels and carpentry wooden slats) that reshapes the building. The openings on the side façades (that look south on to the sports arena and north on to the under-construction building cooperatives) are shielded by the new filter; two large windows, the one on the entrance and the other one aligned on the opposite face, open up a view on the urban landscape.  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli On the north façade, a part of the casing is designed to be eventually overturned creating outdoor tables. The building envelope serves also as a ventilated wall insulating from cold and heat especially during the summer when the external temperature gets close to 40 degrees.  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli The casing not only shields the technical systems (boiler, air conditioner outdoor unit, water pump, alarm system) but also creates a perimeter cavity that works as a storage. Inside, a wall enamelled with a green polyurethane resin separates the work area from the customers’ area. Beams and pillars are left in fair-faced concrete and the floor is made of industrial concrete screed smoothened and treated with a transparent resin. The bar counter, as a full block, is made of iron sheets and the furniture recall vintage retro styles.  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli Biografy Born in Ragusa in 1977, Giuseppe Gurrieri, after his architecture graduation at the Politecnico di Milano, worked for some years at Maria Giuseppina Grasso Cannizzo’s studio. In 2008 he opened his own studio in Ragusa. Giuseppe focuses on private residential projects, including new buildings, restorations, landscaping, and interior design. He works on projects in Sicily and Puglia, and also conducts research and teaches at the Faculty of Architecture of KTH University in Stockholm.  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli  Image Courtesy © Filippo Poli  Image Courtesy © GIUSEPPE GURRIERI  Image Courtesy © GIUSEPPE GURRIERI  Image Courtesy © GIUSEPPE GURRIERI
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