Turin, 6 May 2010 – To build its new headquarters in Turin, Lavazza has chosen the design concept proposed by Cino Zucchi-CZA from those submitted by four internationally renowned architects asked to interpret the guidelines that represent the Lavazza philosophy for the company’s space in Italy and worldwide.

The important architectural and urban-planning work, announced at the end of 2009, will involve the former ENEL power plant bounded by Via Bologna, Via Pisa, Via Ancona, Largo Brescia and Corso Palermo.

“Cino Zucchi’s project is the one that best interprets the identity and values of the Company and the City, paying special attention to sustainability along with balanced integration in the existing urban fabric,” stated company President Alberto Lavazza, who added: “Lavazza is proud that, by choosing an innovative design proposal, it can help valorise such an important part of its home city, to which it is tied by enormous gratitude and 115 years of history. The project also represents the transition from the third to the fourth Lavazza generation, which has now come forward to run the business.”  

The design concepts were evaluated jointly with the City of Turin. The Mayor of Turin, Sergio Chiamparino, stated, “We wholeheartedly embrace this new step being taken to redevelop an important but unfortunately abandoned area. We have also positively assessed the procedure adopted by Lavazza to select the architect. The fact that four internationally renowned young Italian architects were invited to submit proposals demonstrates the company’s focus on architectural and urban quality, and has yielded very satisfying design results.”

Cino Zucchi, one of Italy’s leading architects, is respected across Europe and around the world. His work shows enormous sensitivity to urban needs and is marked by a cultured and innovative approach. The design team, characterised by a strong interdisciplinary focus, includes not only Cino Zucchi Architetti (urban design and architecture), but also Ai Engineering (technologies and structures), Manens-TiFS (environmental strategies and plant engineering), and Atelier G’Art (landscape architecture).

As part of the project, the enormous existing block will be restructured and opened towards the city. The heart of the design concept is a large new tree-lined plaza in the middle of the block that will link the historic building of the old ENEL power station with the new Lavazza headquarters. The complex will be shaped like a big “cloud” linking the various fronts and industrial buildings that have been preserved and converted for new functions, giving the city a green esplanade and opening an unusual point of access to the banks of the River Dora.

Lavazza’s new headquarters engage with the existing city with great sensitivity: the heights of the buildings and the quality of the façades have been studied carefully in relation to the surrounding structures, the quality of the open spaces and solar exposure. The outcome is a project that alludes to Turin’s historic architecture but takes a contemporary approach, paying attention to current technologies and the values of endurance and environmental respect.

“The customer’s prestige and the extraordinary location stimulated us to seek a balance between rootedness within the setting and the creation of a new architecture capable of conveying to the world the vibrant rapport between a global company and its city. The Lavazza offices and the new green square will transform the existing industrial precinct into a new urban venue that is animated throughout the day, one that can embody the most aware lifestyles,” Cino Zucchi affirmed with great satisfaction.

Although it is in the preliminary stages, the project for the new Lavazza headquarters is already in the running for LEED certification (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System), one of the most trusted standards for rating the environmental sustainability of buildings.