Renovation and Extension of Palazzo Massari

The intervention at Palazzo Massari consists in the reinstatement of the original type of the building, rebuilding a disappeared wing in the inner courtyard. This wind is materialized using brick walls similar to those of the old palace, only with no tectonic purpose, and supported by a visible steel structure designed following the same order as the palace.
The facade is conceived as a juxtaposition of brickworks with different sizes and patterns. This way the intervention is differentiated and the ensemble is unified at the same time.
The new extension is accessible from one of the city’s main public park, Parco Massari, thanks to a wide glazed opening. Inside the new building a full-height space is enclosed, which host temporary exhibitions and a staircase that creates a downward itinerary.
Other than a general conservative renovation, the existing historic building is improved with a mechanical ventilation system that uses the cooled-down air from the basement. The air, after being filtered and treated, is immitted to the gallery’s rooms and then extracted through chimneys with a bespoke design compatible with the historic building.
The conceived system identifies the rooms themselves as channels for the air. This allows to avoid a standard channelling system and therefore creates saving.  Moreover, this innovative intervention avoid any M&E impact on the historic building from an economic, constructive and aesthetic point of view.

Culture, Heritage

Ferrara, Italy

Year

2018

Status

Second Prize

Size

-

Client

Ferrara Municipality

Collaborators

-

Design Team

SG/A Sedicigradi
Linazasoro&Sanchez, LCF Engineering
AthenaArquitectura, AEstudio