Crediti Nuova Sede Allianz – Trieste

Concorso a inviti – Nuova sede Allianz Trieste

1. INTRODUCTION

The project theme concerns the redevelopment of the historic headquarters Allianz located in Trieste, in Largo Ugo Irneri 1 building built at the turn of the 80s and 90s as part of the study of Celli and Tognon architecture.
The building was born as the headquarters of Lloyd Adriatico, historic insurance company founded in 1936 by Hugh Irneri own, charismatic figure to which the city of Trieste is very grateful, who managed to emerge in the insurance market first city, where first excelled Generali and Ras then Italian, becoming a prominent landmark.
The company’s president later passed to his son Giorgio, who was also an illustrious name in the Italian insurance market, which brought forward the project of the new headquarters in Trieste, facing the new port city, which was inaugurated in 1987.
Lloyd Adriatico in 1995 became part of the Allianz Group, a European insurance giant scope, allowing them to broaden their boundaries even outside the Italian border, officially becoming in 2007 Allianz Lloyd Adriatico.
This small introductory chapter attempts to riassumente in a few lines nearly 80 years of history of the city of Trieste has always been very attached to its traditions and its own historical figures, which is why the approach to the design theme could only be evaluated carefully and respect for the history of the city and its inhabitants.
The complex of Largo Irneri consists mainly of three separate buildings, which would include the main building, called “building H”, and two buildings smaller buildings called A and B.
The complex is located in a strategic area for the city, exactly in the fourth constituency, that of New Town / Barrier New / San Vito / Old Town, which is close to the city center and adjacent to that is that in 2013 proved to be the main port for merchandise volume traded throughout Italy, and that together the insurance business, it turns out to be for the city one of the most profitable economic activities and traditionally located.
Similarly the headquarters is located just minutes from Trieste Train Station, which facilitates the interconnections both on the Italian territory, that of the European one, thanks to the Southern Railway, which connects the city to Vienna and Ljubljana, and the Transalpina railway, which It makes accessible the Czech Republic.
All the buildings are their main elevations exposed to SOUTH / WEST – NORD / EST, the ground, in the direction NORD / EST suddenly share rooms, but the building is placed on a “plate” service, which allows 3 buildings to find the ground floors substantially the same dimensions.
1.1. BUILDING H – CURRENT STATUS
The Building H externally is proposed as an impressive complex of post-modern style, externally and internally based on a central symmetry, that is generated from the main entrance, located on the long side of the building H, on the side facing south / West. This main front can be described in its main portions, namely the central one that corresponds to the input, and the two side that internally house the operational functions.
The appearance of the entrance central portion is characterized externally by multiple openings windows of different shapes and sizes, which gives rise to a play of overlapping of several “layers” architecture, which then correspond to the different floors of the building, which end with a volume that reinterprets in a post-modern greek eardrum.
The side portions of the building are also in this case consist of a pattern of overlapping of several layers, with cuts and openings with different forms, but in this are easy to locate the most “technical plans”, and therefore with less openings to the ‘ exterior, which correspond with the first two layers which contain mainly archive spaces and technical spaces, the 3 planes containing the offices of the employees, which are most open to the outside being characterized by a curtain-wall system with opening fixtures, mail behind the main structure of reinforced concrete pillars with step 480 cm and the fifth floor which is instead characterized by a different formal design, with smaller dimensions of the openings of rectangular shape.
The building portions just described ends at the ends of the volumes containing the emergency stairs, and toilets, transactions with relatively planimetric shape with a semicircular wall and windows of type “bay window”.
The building ends with a sixth floor which occupies only the central portion of Building H, which houses the executive offices, and which is aligned, from the formal point of view, the issues described for the lower levels, namely to eclecticism in the shape and size of the openings, and by a volumetric composition generated from elementary geometric shapes.
The access to the building complex is carried by a main entrance, located in Largo Irneri, on the main front of ‘Building H at a point which happens to be the barycentric both from a formal point of view and as regards the functional aspects becoming the fulcrum of distribution ‘entire area, from which grow radially all the functions and activities.
The area of the entrance hall is located at an elevated level than the street level of about 3 meters, reached via a staircase and two ramps. The lobby is directly linked to an octagonal distribution volume, which planimetrically looks like a large central void, and that contains the elevators that lead directly to the building plans.
In addition to the issue of distribution, always in a central position it is placed strategically most of the technical rooms containing mechanical and hydraulic systems.
The entrance is on the ground floor of the building while the lower floor is occupied by a parking lot. The two units are connected by means of two ramps. The first floor houses some office space, bordering on two rather narrow inner courtyards, and documents and microfilm storage spaces, which are located more externally.
The first floor is occupied, as the ground floor, from some areas used as offices, which also face in this case on the two narrow long and short, and by a series of technical rooms, warehouses, archives.
The ground floor and the first floor make up the “plate” technique which has been discussed previously.
The real offices plans start from the second floor, workspaces, arranged in most cases according to the philosophy of each staff offices, develop in the 4 arms of Building H, served by a central corridor, punctuated by rhythmically a series of double reinforced concrete pillars. Consequently part of the offices overlooking the outside, respectively towards the sea to the south / west and from a slope / embankment in North / East, while some looks towards the two large green inner courtyards, but without vegetation and not usable by employees as they do not walkable.

The second, third and fourth floors are basically very similar both planimetrically that in the prospectus, while the fifth floor, appears distinct from these. Also here we always find spaces intended for office use, characterized in this case by a different type of facing, both towards the outside and towards the internal courtyards, composed of traditional windows instead of from the curtain wall.
The sixth floor of Building H is occupied by the spaces reserved to the leadership, with larger office areas, the meeting room of the Board, the meeting room of the president and the managing director, as well as one space buffet / catering, and an art gallery , which exhibits works of Lloyd Adriatico collection, and is developed mainly in the communal areas, however, going to adorn with its objects also offices and meeting rooms.
1.1. BUILDING A and B – CURRENT STATUS
The buildings A and B are located in the north compared to the building H, and result in plant two “buildings in L” mirror. Access to these buildings is via a road which overlooks the front of the North / East H building and the main fronts of the buildings A and B. This road is currently used as a service road for the loading / unloading of goods . Even in the case of these two buildings, the basement is used for parking, technical and service spaces such as changing rooms, stores etc. archives.
On the ground floor, we find the first of the A building Giorgio Irneri Auditorium, which seats up to 190 people. This is placed over 9 tiers, and the main access is from the highest altitude. Internally finishes see the walls partially covered with sound-absorbing wood panels, a ceiling with laminated wooden beams, a volume above the small stage of the speakers made of plasterboard containing the lighting, flooring and blue carpet.
It ‘a local director as well as a local translators that nowadays is not used. The local director is connected to the auditorium to access place in the stage area, which doubles as a second emergency exit for the room. Also from this access you can reach the storage space.
On the ground floor there is a canteen which is currently too small compared to the needs. Even the kitchen and food preparation areas are very small compared to the actual needs. Currently the escape routes from this place leads to a small courtyard.
The building A is also home to the kindergarten for employees, consisting of some game rooms, the changing rooms, a small kitchen and changing rooms.
The buildings A and B, that count 5 floors above ground, the rest are mainly occupied by office areas, which respect the characteristics of the corresponding areas identified previously in the building H, although they present cases of offices for 6 or 8 people.
2.1. CONCENTRATION OF ALL OFFICES IN ALLIANZ ‘BUILDING H
One of the key steps in the design phase involved the reorganization of work spaces, according to the most modern standards and efficient, focusing on the principles of sharing space and the concept of open-space areas, which allow better interaction between employees and better operation.
One of the advantages that this choice has been brought to a saving of surface dedicated to offices areas, that consequently it was possible to redistribute and optimize, up to reach the target of the concentration of the whole area needed to accommodate about 1650 employees in one building H, freeing the buildings a and B from all functions within them, keeping only the auditorium, which becomes a system capable of operating independently.
The consequence of this choice is to be able to manage the buildings A and B at will with the ability to make income the above buildings, the economic investment focusing mainly on the building H, which would undergo a more substantial redevelopment and complete.
2.2. SIDED DOUBLE SKIN
Face up to a local pre-existence of such importance and impact is never simple for several reasons. First of all for the image that this building has acquired over time in the collective imagination of the citizens, who clearly identified in this impressive complex a symbol and a reference, although aesthetically no longer in step with the times. Secondly, the complexity and the articulation of this pre-existence, which is very fragmented, with very different solutions depending on the intended use of the spaces, with different heights for different bodies, which do not further complicate the task of giving a new modern and avant-garde image, which is moreover able to significantly improve the energy performance of the building.
The first feeling you get watching the main front of the building H is the multiplicity of openings, massing, the overhangs and ledges that characterize a prospect that is very complex and complicated. Certain structural solutions also make it even more difficult the possibility of radically changing the aesthetic appearance of the building, without making very invasive interventions and certainly expensive.
The on the existing intervention has been addressed to achieve a greater uniformity in the size of glazed surfaces of the openings, which contribute to give the building a more transparent, less heavy and closed. The replacement of the existing curtain-wall with a curtain more modern and transparent, with double skin glass windows to cover the whole net height dell’interpiano, and spandrel glass, leads first to the energy-related benefits, as through glass elements more performance they can ensure the best performance in all aspects, but also to a general easing of the main façade.
This redevelopment of the existing front affects all levels of the building: The first planes were the most closed, because they contain functions related to the archives and storage rooms, get new openings to ceiling, resulting in the introduction of new functions within these premises.
The second the third and the fourth floor, as just pointed out benefit of a curtain more modern and better in performance than the existing, able to change radically the appearance. The fifth floor conforms to the size of the openings in the lower levels, which are obtained by demolishing the upper and lower portion of the existing windows, and replacing the fixtures. In addition to this the “kiosks”, eardrums, bus shelters and existing pergolas on the fifth floor roof are removed, to give the face a more minimalist and orderly appearance.
The central portion of the face is affected, like the other cases, by an increase of the glass surfaces of the office floors above the new entrance, and a ‘uniformity of the left portion of the fifth floor with the right time to complete the symmetry of the prospectus. This series of interventions interesting the two internal courtyards and face North / East, and is intended to update the existing building, making it less material, more current and light, but not twisting the language, keeping it still identifiable and recognizable.
The element that performs the task instead to give the building a completely new aspect is detectable in the new double glazed skin that stands in front of the existing, a technological side able to deliver leading-edge performance and energy at the same time capable of act as a real architectural backdrop, which does not completely hide the past, but that enriches making a background less bulky, and reflecting on its surface the image of the city and its environment.
The glass facades are revolutionizing the South / West fronts North / East of the building H, the two main fronts, who expose themselves to the city of Trieste, and in need, especially in the case of the South / West elevation, the highest performance, in due to a direct exposure of the sun. This facade is composed of glass elements with a pitch of 120 cm, which make reference to structural step of the existing building which is still, which results to be of 480 cm. Only at the ends – both internal and external – the pace is changed to the same extent with respect to the structural grid of the building H.
The height of the glazed elements depends also in this case from the heights of the different existing levels, which are proposed to allow for the fixing. The total height of the glass facade is 24 meters compared to the portion of the ground floor, thus overcoming the fifth floor portion of the building arms H, but without overwhelming the building, thus not becoming a nuisance, but integrating and dialoguing with the most seniority.
This double skin glass window is placed at a distance of 0.9 meters to the most prominent point of the prospectus. This distance is designed in such a way as to be covered by mesh cable tray to allow for optimum maintenance and cleaning.
Through the use of selective solar control glazing, double glazed skin helps to partially intercept the solar radiation, before it can reach behind the existing facade, thereby reducing solar heat gains in the period of cooling of the building in order to optimize energy performance, there are curtains roller blinds mounted externally to the existing building, which allow the automatic dimming of sunlight input, ensuring excellent thermal and visual comfort even in extreme situations.
During the period of cooling, and especially in spring and autumn, the open configuration allows the jacket to naturally ventilate the interior, contributing to the achievement of thermal comfort conditions. The double glazed skin is, in fact, also a barrier against high wind speeds that may occur near the coast, sheltering both inhabited environments that solar screens (external curtains) integrated into the cavity.
During the heating period, however, with the closed configuration of the cavity, is created a filter area with consequent increase of the solar and heat losses reduction contributions towards the outside.
On the inner skin is provided the use of extrachiare windows with low-emessivo coating, in order to reduce energy consumption and at the same time maximize the entry of solar radiation in the winter period (with curtains raised).
in addition to the question of the cost savings it is not to overlook the fact that improved energy efficiency leads to a radical curtailment of harmful emissions, finally making a building born at a time when the issue of environmental sustainability represented certainly not a big concern , a modern and functional housing technologically redesigned to respect the environment.
2.3. SIDED SHIELDING IN INTERNAL SHORT
The solution adopted in the façade differs from that pursued in the main facade, since in such cases the aim was to equip the building of a series of green areas finally accessible and really fun, totally missing element at present.
The very fact of being prospectuses overlooking a courtyard, which enjoy a greater thermal comfort given by the projection of the shadows of the buildings themselves, made it possible to use a different system, which could not only contribute to energy performance, featuring a unique design each of the two courts, making them less formal places of leisure and relaxation, finally usufruibili by employees.
Again it was decided to build the new facade which overlap the existing building, but instead of providing a double glass skin, the choice fell on a panel composed of galvanized sheet metal painted panels composed of “full servings” and louvres to create a catchy and original geometric design, able to make the two internal courtyards most colorful and informal places that stand out looking more modern and elusive of the new main glass front.
The choice of this simple but innovative solution, is designed for the pleasantness of green spaces: these schedules are characterized by shielding that follow textures and geometric designs (few standardized elements, easy and fast execution and assembly) characterized by a different color for each court, which create points of catalysts within a batch and that help them not to feel in an anonymous place or lacking any attractiveness. The coating in question is not just a mere decoration or embellishment of the building for its own sake, but rather an active skin that in addition to characterize the building protects it from wasting energy by controlling the solar radiation.
The goal of making exploitable finally the green short has been achieved by the addition of 45 cm of soil to the existing one, so as to achieve such a level to allow for growth to the medium with trees, which will brighten the green areas .
The reason the facades continues in the narrow court that is located between the ground floor and the first floor, with panels that double as parapet around the gardens.
The above described internal facades reach a height of 13.5 meters, and collaborate with the new continuous curtain-wall facades, being characterized by “empty” bands placed at eye level, ie without darkening panels, to allow the exterior facing and “filled” bands that reduce solar radiation.
The buildings A and B, being in most position out of the building H, differently from this were treated, with the use of a third solution that could facade as in the other cases improve the energy performance but at the same time characterize them with a new skin.
2.5. DINING / AREA CLIENT / PICTURE GALLERY
The new entrance atrium project nearing completion provides a link via a walkway to the wing South / West building, wing where it was chosen to provide the areas relating to the cafeteria, now arranged for 252 people (including 32 VIP seats).
Access is through a reception area, accessible by employees only after the outgoing shift operation through the turnstiles, equipped with wall-hanging flat screens, so as to give life to a news area that becomes a meeting place and information at the same time.
Subsequently, the path leads to the distribution, organized to different islands for each flow rate, which, after the passage in the case, comes to the true and proper canteen, which is neatly organized with tables of 6 or 8 occupants files.
The mess hall is on two levels placed at different heights, the share of access which is +16.30 m s.l.m. and a raised portion of 170 cm, accessible by a staircase and a platform for the disabled, which overlooks the garden, made accessible by employees. Here indeed it is organized more informal and relaxing area, with sea views, designed not only for employees, but also for guests and external users.
The kitchens of the new canteen will develop in the inner part of the volume for the canteen, they are modern and properly dimensioned according to current regulations. The loading and unloading area is planned to the garage floor, and the merchandise reaches the kitchens via a freight elevator.
The table also includes a VIP area, on the upper floor, accessible via a private path, and is served by the main kitchen through a small lunchbox that reaches a room for preparing food reserved for employees. This space is glazed with views of the garden and the sea.
Placed adjacent to the VIP area, the client area is organized to allow any guests and external users to have a location from which to work, possibly make the meetings, thanks to the small meeting room furniture, arrange for meetings speeches and materials and meetings, all without the need to access the area reserved for employees with a valid identity badge. The “phone booth” areas are small mobile spaces that allow you to make phone calls in the strictest confidence, in full respect of the other users of the client area.
The Client area also being strategically placed around the restaurant Vip, enables these to be able to easily organize meetings and business meetings in this strategic area. Again, thanks to large windows, the view can sight the garden and the sea.
Also through the new entrance hall you have chosen to make accessible the wing South / East of the building, with a mirrored catwalk than expected, so that you can arrange in these spaces the art gallery, which is then transferred from the sixth floor on the ground floor, making it even be visited by school groups and study groups without requiring them to go through the turnstiles of access for employees.
The gallery is organized into a larger room than the existing one, in which the many pillars are masked by the exhibition walls. The collection of works of art may nonetheless be exposed to rotation, leaving part of these on the sixth floor. The gallery spaces also include the use of the garden, which becomes a “sculpture garden” overlooking the sea, ideal for the organization of exclusive events.
3.1. OFFICES – PHONE BOOTH – TOUCH DOWN – MEETING FURNITURE
Workspaces arranged in the building H, as just mentioned, are based on the principle of sharing of space so as to create a building as a living organism, which strengthens the sense of community, of interaction and communication.
The planning of these functions today is organized according to different criteria than in the past, since switching from a traditional scheme to closed offices to a different articulation of space, which not only takes advantage of the open space efficiency, but is enriched with a whole series of media (phone booths, structured and informal meeting rooms, break areas, touch down etc.), flexible and thematic, whose objective is a greater interaction and improved workforce productivity, which has provided more functional and livable spaces .
Workspaces, compared to the previous layout, include the use of available surface area more freely with different types of office which take place in a 150 cm wheelbase, creating an alternation of shapes and very dynamic roles that improves internal relations, fostering a horizontal distribution. The workspace integrates the classic work at the station with different levels of confidentiality, sharing and informality in a very simple and straightforward, by modulating dynamically both the individual concentration needs to be teamwork.
In addition to classic formal meeting rooms, complete the seating more informal rooms, the “shells” that can accommodate a small meeting table if necessary to organize quicker meetings, which can be moved or removed in stock when not in use. Even these measures contribute to the realization of a more configurable floor, breaking the past stiffness to maximize the potential offered by the large spaces available.
The “Phone Booth” areas, such as mobile meeting rooms, pieces of furniture that can easily be moved or removed, allowing to have on each floor of the private areas where you can make phone calls, so as not to distract or disturb others workers.
The areas identified as “Touch Down”, are of temporary work areas located on each floor, able to provide to any guests, the possibility to have an operational space before a meeting or for a limited period of time.
A special feature of the office floor layout is the presence of green areas within each level, informal islands that overlook the gardens of the domestic courts, and allow employees to have open spaces within walking distance from your desk.
These solutions not only lead to the emergence of a more stimulating work environment and modern, but allow a space-saving without sacrificing the real business needs and employees, operating a real optimization of available resources. The result is as already specified, the possibility of occupying the H building spaces, excluding offices and operating functions by the buildings A and B. This it follows that not only is a surface potential savings, but also a substantial energy saving
3.2. AUDITORIUM

The auditorium Giorgio Irneri was the subject of a deep restyling, designed to give a more modern face to one of the hubs of the community of this building complex. Access to the auditorium is made by a different entrance than the main one, from the road that is interposed between the buildings A / B and the H building, which makes it usable in complete autonomy during evening hours, or other possible users.
The feeling of warmth and hospitality are expressed thanks to the coatings to the entire height of the walls made of sound-absorbing and sound-reflecting wooden panels with horizontal slats finish, the new always in wood flooring, and new sessions of red.
The peculiarity of the new auditorium is detectable in the particular design of the false ceiling, which is also covered in sound-reflecting wood, in which the “technical gorges” contain lighting elements, loudspeakers and air conditioning systems, so as to ensure a clean formal, and an aesthetic order within the room.
The parabolic design of these gorges are characteristic features of the room, it is generated from the stage area of the speakers, and goes to open up gradually towards the last rows of seats. This reason makes the auditorium a dynamic space of interaction between speaker and audience.

3.3. MENSA
Even in the canteen the goal was to have a space of interaction that might be pleasant and relaxing, where employees and guests could enjoy spacious interiors and also to external outlets. The choices have consequences as in the case of the auditorium, the use of warm materials, such as wood flooring and wall cladding. The lighting is embedded in the white ceiling, made of sound-absorbing material to avoid getting unpleasant acoustic reverberations. The wide spaces dedicated to the canteen area are inspired as the entire project by the principles of flexibility, allowing different configurations of the tables and provisions. Items of furniture such as tables and chairs are also in this case wood. 3.4. CLIENT AREA
The CD / Client area is a functional and highly reconfigurable, basically a large open space used by external guests, consultants, and all those figures are not used within the home, but in need of picnic areas and operational conditions which allow the ability to fully carry out the work.
The mobile meeting rooms, designed as lightweight casings, easily movable, are designed for more informal meetings, which do not require large conference rooms, but still require some privacy and a connection to the corporate network. Even the phone booths are small items of furniture lightweight, extremely easy to store in the storage space in case you need to use the client area for events or other temporary functions.
Client area were also provided for a series of informal workplaces, on a long table with an organic shape, different zones “Touch Down”, a bar and recreation area designed for employees and guests.

3.5. THE ART GALLERY
We planned to accomplish the Art Gallery on the ground floor of the building H to make it usable by the public. The Allianz art collection will thus become accessible from the schools, research centers and visitors of various kinds.

This solution will allow to transform the Art Gallery in one of promotion and Allianz communication tool towards the public also to create new opportunities for meetings and events.

The spaces dedicated to the Art Gallery are designed for optimum user flexibility to switch between the works of art with ease and organize thematic exhibitions.
The dense mesh of pillars was covered by display panels, which mark a path and allow, with their large surfaces, exposing a large number of works of art. The collection will however also be partially maintained at the sixth floor, Leadership.

The choice of wood and white walls helps give life to a neutral space, primarily for enhancing the exhibits and their contents.
L ‘lighting is composed of a spherical ceiling spotlights on tracks in order to locate them and guide them in the best way to maximize the colors and atmospheres of the works of art.
The strategic choice of the positioning of the gallery on the ground floor of the building H, in mirrored position with respect to areas Mensa and Client, allows to have a ground floor and accessible by persons not related to Allianz, resulting in a more vital level and able to promote even more the role of Allianz in the city of Trieste and beyond.

The value of the exhibits in the collection, finally becoming public knowledge, will allow the organization of guided tours and cultural events can make the ground floor of a vital H level even outside of working hours canons.

The gallery is also designed to make use of outdoor spaces, which, as in the case of the table, become accessible to the public, and is able to host events. The the “sculpture garden” area, will become, along with the renovated auditorium, the true cultural center of the whole building complex.