CL+AA architects references mountain form in bozen’s waste to energy plant

CL+AA architects references mountain form in bozen’s waste to energy plant
all images courtesy of CL+AA architects

the new ‘waste to energy plant’ was designed by italian studio CL&AA architects as a replacement for an existing one in bolzano, italy. the site is surrounded by mountains and vineyards, and the outline of the mass mimics these formations with lines and colors used to help create a balance between the industrial structure and the natural landscape, and reducing its overall visual impact. the complex consists of two main volumes of different heights that are orientated towards the isarco river and nearby highway.

view showing the structure immersed in the landscape

turbines and transformer rooms are screened by an aluminum green skin that acts also as a noise barrier, and to the side of this is the office building. this is formed by a glazed mass with a sloping profile, which opens towards the countryside and contains a small greenhouse on the inside.

the plant against its mountain backdrop

the second volume hosts the furnace and boiler and is coated by a green surface with many small windows, and the concrete structure of the waste pit. the tipping hall features translucent polycarbonate walls at the external façade. particular attention was paid to the use of color throughout the interior, with each zone corresponding to a different one.

view from the vineyards

aerial view

night view

night view

the sloping profile of the office building

machinery inside

detail view

a sketch showing reference to the mountains

project info:

client: province of bolzano
architects: claudio lucchin/cleaa (design) michele carlini, giovanni carlini, claudio orlati, reinhard thaler, primo de biasi
consultants engineer: thomas vollmeier
location: bolzano, italy
program: waste-to-energy plant, offices
status: realized
schedule: 2008-2013
opening: 2014
total area: 24.932 m²
volume: 196.749 m³
cost: 117,9 milion €
construction: atzwanger SPA, hafner SRL, ladurner
SPA, CCC: consorzio cooperative costruzioni, gruppo unieco, cle, ceif, oberosler,seeste bau ag, wipptaler bau ag, stahlbau pichler
photographs: © alessandra chemollo, © marco ferrarin

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