Italian architect Giorgio Comoglio recently has completed the renovation of the Ex Sellerie, which is located in the area of the ex military arsenal in Turin, Italy. The task of the project is to increase the original building’s floor area and height. The minimal form of perforated steel envelope has been introduced to integrate the existing building into one, and also not to interfere with the surrounding buildings.

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

We opted to install a curtain of perforated sheet metal in copper-zinc-titanium alloy attached independently on the facade. This skin was meant to wrap the building like an ambiguous veil that conceals the complexity and architectural disorder determined by the previous structure, transforming the pitched roof into a series of homogeneous volumes superimposed. The building is wrapped in a new shell that filters the view of the city with different transparencies.

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

Ex Sellerie, image courtesy of Studio Comoglio Architetti

Project: Ex Sellerie, Turin, Italy, 2009
Architect: Giorgio Comoglio
Authors: Comoglio Architetti – Giorgio Comoglio, Eraldo Comoglio, Laura Audisio
Client: City of Turin, Ser.Mi.G Association
Location: Turin, Italy
GFA: 6,320 m2
Programme: School of Restoration, nursery, residences
Engineering consultants: Si.Me.Te, Turin, Italy
Photography: Studio Comoglio Architetti

The project is the renovation of the Ex Selleria, a building that belonged to the area of the ex military arsenal in Turin.

The original building was built in the late nineteenth century, two floors in plastered solid brick, with vaulted ceiling over segmental arches.

When our office received the assignment, there was a structure designed and partially implemented, with an increase in height of the two floors of the former building inside an envelope made out of an iron structure with pitched roof in corrugated steel.

As well as obtaining the approval from the city, the intervention was directed to recover the image of the building.

We opted to install a curtain of perforated sheet metal in copper-zinc-titanium alloy attached independently on the facade. This skin was meant to wrap the building like an ambiguous veil that conceals the complexity and architectural disorder determined by the previous structure, transforming the pitched roof into a series of homogeneous volumes superimposed. The building is wrapped in a new shell that filters the view of the city with different transparencies.