seven wood-clad boxes outline industrial building's facade in italy

Sustainable Industrial Design defines LCA Architetti’s N Building

LCA Architetti has designed the facades of the N Building in Italy, focusing on creating an energy-efficient, passive industrial space for Novello Srl. The project prioritizes sustainability, achieved through the design of two main facades: the West and South. The West facade, facing the A8 Highway, features a series of seven large boxes that reference the company’s logistics and wooden home production. These modular volumes, set in a rhythmic sequence, give the appearance of levitating over a platform roof that extends nearly four meters. This design reinterprets the traditional shed structure while maintaining its functional aesthetic, enhancing its modern industrial character. The South facade, facing State Road 20, contrasts the West with its linear design, clad almost entirely in larch wood slats.

all images by Andrea Ceriani

N Building Sets New Standards in Bioecological Architecture

The team at LCA Architetti designed the building to be entirely passive with no conventional heating or air conditioning systems. Instead, the structure relies on high levels of insulation, heat recovery from production equipment, and the integration of renewable energy sources such as sunlight and air. This approach ensures complete energy independence and eliminates CO2 emissions. The use of wood as the primary material reflects the company’s core business in wooden homes and packaging. The building’s construction is a significant example of bioecological and sustainable architecture, with 5,000 cubic meters of wood used, and it was assembled entirely by the company’s staff. Key features of the project include minimal soil usage, prefabrication, energy efficiency, and the use of natural, renewable materials like wood and cellulose. As one of the first of its kind in Italy, and one of the few in Europe of this scale, the N Building sets a precedent for sustainable industrial architecture in both design and function.

LCA Architetti designs the N Building’s facade with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability

the West facade features seven large, modular boxes, referencing Novello’s wooden home production

modular volumes on the West facade create a rhythmic, levitating visual over the platform roof

the platform roof extends nearly four meters, enhancing the building’s industrial aesthetic

N Building is completely passive, with no conventional heating or cooling systems

high insulation and heat recovery systems ensure the building’s energy efficiency

wood is the primary material, aligning with Novello’s core business of wooden homes and packaging

prefabrication and renewable materials reduce the environmental footprint of the project

the South facade contrasts the West with linear wooden slats made of larch

1/7

the use of wood and cellulose emphasizes the project's commitment to renewable resources

sketches

elevations

project info:

name: N BUILDING
architects: LCA architetti | @lca_architetti

design team: LCA + Holtz Bau + Novello Srl
client: Novello Srl

location: Oggiona con Santo Stefano, Italy

photography: Andrea Ceriani | @andrea.ceriani

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom