renzo piano's italian bank tower contains a public bioclimatic greenhouse

renzo piano’s italian bank tower contains a public bioclimatic greenhouse
photo by enrico cano

towering 166 meters above turin, an office building for the italian bank intesa sanpaolo has opened its doors after five years of construction. designed by renzo piano building workshop, the scheme is conceived as an ‘environmental and social laboratory’, positioned at the center of a range of public services.

the building climbs to total height of 166 meters
photo by enrico cano

the tower comprises three levels of parking garages, a storey of utility rooms and a sunken garden, around which are the company restaurant and kindergarten are organized. above ground, the building accommodates 26 storeys of office space in addition to a floor for training, which includes spaces and services open to the public.

the tower accommodates 26 floors of offices 
photo by enrico cano

‘the building must become part of the daily life of the city,’ explains renzo piano. ‘the citizens must accept it and use it in their day-to-day lives. for this reason, the last three floors are open to all.’

an adjoining area of parkland has been upgraded and transformed into a engaging space, with trees of different heights, lawns and neighborhood functions. access to the garden from the adjacent street is provided by a public gallery that traverses the entrance hall on the ground floor.

the scheme is conceived as an ‘environmental and social laboratory’
photo by enrico cano

within the design, a multi-purpose 364-seat conference room can be transformed into an flexible exhibition hall, able to accommodate a range of events owing to its variable acoustics. higher up, the bioclimatic greenhouse, naturally ventilated, welcomes the public on three levels: a restaurant with adjoining garden, the exhibition hall, and the roof terrace.

the kindergarten and restaurant are organized around a sunken garden
photo by enrico cano

to the east and west the building’s spine consists of elevators and stairs, contributing to the vital and varied effect of the design. to the south the staircase connecting the floors incorporates a vertical winter garden where creepers filter the light behind motorized façades.

a bioclimatic greenhouse welcomes the public on three levels
photo by enrico cano

the building is the result of advanced research intended to take advantage of natural energy sources. ground water is used for cooling the offices, while solar power is captured by the photovoltaic panels covering the tower’s southern façade. a double-skin glass façade makes it possible to limit heat loss in winter, and is controlled through a system of apertures and solar screens with motorized louvers, which control irradiation and lighting in work areas.

the naturally ventilated space features a restaurant and an exhibition hall
photo by enrico cano

the building’s spine consists of elevators and stairs
photo by enrico cano

a range of materials are used throughout the project’s interior
photo by enrico cano

a large meeting room housed at an upper level of the tower
photo by enrico cano

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project info:

client: intesa sanpaolo
architects: renzo piano building workshop
competition: 2006
completed: 2015
design team: p.vincent (partner in charge), w.matthews, c.pilara with j.carter, t.nguyên, t.sahlmann and v.delfaud, a.amakasu; o. & a. doizy (models)

design team: p.vincent and a.h.temenides (partner and associate in charge), c.pilara, v.serafini, with a.alborghetti, m.arlunno, j.carter, c.devizzi, v.delfaud, g.marot, j.pattinson, d.phillips, l.raimondi, d.rat, m.sirvin and m.milanese, a.olivier, j.vargas; s.moreau (environmental aspects) ; o.aubert, c.colson, y.kyrkos , a.pacé (models)
consultants: inarco (consulting architect); expedition engineering / studio ossola / m.majowiecki (structure); manens-tifs (building services); rfr (façade engineering); eléments ingénieries / CSTB / RWDI (environmental studies); golder associates (hydrogeological consultant); GAE engineering (fire prevention); peutz & associés / onleco (acoustics); lerch, bates & associates (vertical transportation); securcomp (security); cosil (lighting); labeyrie & associés (audio/ video equipment); spooms / barberis (kitchen equipment); atelier corajoud / studio giorgetta (landscaping); tekne (cost consultant); michele de lucchi / pierluigi copat architecture (interior design); jacobs italia (site supervision)