Located in the city center of Cuneo, in Italy’s north-eastern Piedmont region, this linear block is conventionally divided into the various functions it houses: residential units go from the second floor up to and including two attic apartments, offices occupy the first floor, retail space is at ground level, and parking space is below level. The building is the first of four similar blocks planned for the neighbourhood. A slender parallelepiped, its long side lies on an east-west axis.
The symmetrical modular plan is designed to ensure occupant comfort. Each dwelling unit has at least two outlooks and quality furnishings are a feature throughout.
A continuous balcony runs around the whole building on every floor starting from the third, residential level. The balcony space of the various residential units is partitioned off by opaque panels and flower boxes. A major quality-of-life feature, the balconies are of different depth depending on orientation: deeper on the south-east elevation and shallower to the north-east. Timber flooring and soffits create a welcoming semi-outdoor environment, a natural carryover from the interior.
Excellent soundproofing is another quality feature, with acoustic performance exceeding current regulatory requirements. Structural elements have been insulated to stop the propagation of noise and vibrations, and floors have special sound dampening to attenuate the noise of footsteps and prevent “acoustic bridges”.
The “simplicity” of this parallelepiped block is given a distinctive touch by the jutting wrap-around balconies that seem to frame the building. At night luminaires running along these horizontal markers highlight the reflective grey cladding to great effect.
Francesco Pagliari
Digital
Printed
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