Office Building of the Guardia di Finanza | Bologna, Italy

The project for the new regional headquarters of Guardia di Finanza (Financial and Customs Police) transforms a marginal urban condition into a work of architecture that exudes both composure and rigor, all while seamlessly incorporating a diverse range of spaces and establishing connections with the urban fabric and distinctive elements of the city of Bologna.

Contextual Design

The project is situated within a complex context: an area on the edges of the city enclosed by urban partitions and characterized by a series of heterogeneous spaces. To the north, the railway line and Bologna’s high-speed train station create a continuous boundary of partitions and infrastructures. To the south, there’s the dynamic area of the DumBO Social Center and to the east, the building is bordered by Via Tanari street. As a result, the design delves into the concept of the “boundary”, which is envisioned as a transformative “third space”, fostering the emergence of interactive and innovative architectural dynamics as well as interprets this marginal urban condition as an opportunity for connection and regeneration within the district.

Design Approach

The new structure, perpendicular to Via Tanari and seamlessly integrated with the original core of the Bertarini barracks, functions as a compact element with a bespoke elevation. A series of terraces are designed as outdoor extensions to the program. These elevated gardens, gradually descending along the five floors, are conceived as spaces that not only enhance the environmental quality of the office spaces but also establish a visual connection with the urban landscape.

Despite being part of a military complex and, therefore, a confined and protected area, the new office building strategically establishes a series of connections with the urban context. More specifically, on the southern facade an elevated footbridge is designed to connect the new offices to the existing spaces of the Bertarini barracks. Towards the west, the new architecture rises in front of the partition separating the barracks area from the temporary urban regeneration space DumBO, housed in the former railway freight yard. This creates an additional opportunity for visual interaction between the military complex and the social life of the city.

Façade Design

The facades are composed by a series of panels that result in a modular pattern featuring the dominant red tones found in the material textures of Bologna. The relationship between the facades and their environment enhances the overarching theme of order and transformation within the architectural composition.

In this regard, various vantage points, contribute to a visual progression that unfolds both horizontally and vertically. The true element that disrupts and simultaneously reconfigures the internal spaces is the long staircase, which unfolds linearly along the entire length of the building and guides the movement as well as the gaze of the visitors.