Ecology between the Lines
The Mechanical Workshop, which opened in 2001 and covers a surface area of 15,000 square metres, comprises fifteen work areas. Each of these, devoted to a specific activity, contains workstations with machine tools and CNCCAD centres, offices, metrological rooms and two green areas. A balcony specially designed for visitors allows them to observe the various stages of the work process.
The project for Lavorazioni Meccaniche Motori (Mechanical Workshop) building, produced by Marco Visconti, created a space in which high technology, sophisticated craftsmanship and environmental sustainability are combined synergetically. In order to attain this result, the architect focused on two factors in particular:
natural lighting (300 lux), modulated by careful attention to the exposure to solar gain: on the south elevation, a brise-soleil with swivelling aluminium fins softens the direct light with a series of shadows; on the east elevation, three "conservatories" shaded by blinds with a vertical movement filter the sunlight, also helping to heat the building in winter;
environmental control, obtained through a clear and smooth flow of work, with the fifteen work areas well spaced out and wide corridors that can be used by several work teams at once. Other important elements include the excellent soundproofing (the noise level does not exceed 73 decibels) and the air conditioning/filtering of the working environment. Of fundamental importance in the building's design is the osmosis between interior and exterior with the garden surrounding the building, which, by contrasting with the glass and metal shell, stresses it, and the islands of vegetation inside that help to reduce the dominance of technology in the work areas.