Gioj Manifattura – Valenza (AL)

The new headquarters of the goldsmith company Gioj Manifattura Valenza is located on the edge of the city of Alexandria. The project involves a strong integration between the new building and the vegetation in a continuous dialogue with nature that lets the company’s history of strong green connotations shine through.

The project area is on the border of the Monferrato hills, in the vicinity of the Tanaro River, a tributary of the Po River. The project concept is developed around an ongoing dialogue and discussion between the client, the architectural and landscape designers.  The idea that arises and will guide the design choices is for the new building to be an interpretation and synthesis of the “forms of the place.”

The building is developed in two reinforced concrete bodies that accommodate administrative, goldsmith’s work and production functions. The two bodies are united by a connecting fulcrum. The architectural conformation of the new building generates green open spaces on three sides, the perimeter façades are blind and are accompanied in the role of the building envelope by dense carpentry in hollow steel sections placed parallel to the vertical closures that serve as support for climbing vegetation.

In the project, architecture assists nature, serving as a means for the development of vegetation. The collaboration between artifice and nature that is generated is a winning one; it gives greater completeness to the project.

In fact, the synergy, in addition to ensuring the functional program required by the client, promotes the natural settlement of local flora and fauna, the strengthening of biodiversity indicators, reduces air pollution, protects indoor environments from summer solar radiation, and improves the visual comfort of the entire area. In addition, it makes a significant contribution to the reduction of energy consumption for indoor cooling and heating of the building due to the extensive meadow green system put in place on the roof.