La Provincia di Cremona has published an article by Massimo Schettino titled “The Former Bank of Italy Reborn: An Ever-Blooming Rooftop Garden with 2,817 Plants”, presenting the project by Stefano Boeri Architetti, currently under construction.
The redevelopment project for the former Bank of Italy building in Cremona involves the regeneration of the historic structure, originally designed by Luigi Vagnetti in the 1950s and decommissioned in 2009.
The design principles behind the intervention aim, on one hand, to enhance and preserve the value of the existing architecture—respecting its strongly established character—and, on the other, to improve the building’s energy efficiency and reconnect it with the city. This is achieved through the creation of an internal green courtyard and the use of the arcade area on the outside for public functions, literally opening the building to interaction with the urban environment.
A 50-kilowatt red photovoltaic system has been installed, recalling the terracotta roof tiles of the surrounding buildings. A rainwater collection tank and a private well have also been created to irrigate the greenery without relying on the public water supply and to minimize waste. The result is 3,000 square meters encompassing 17 apartments, along with about 3,000 plants and shrubs and 600 square meters of lawn.
The vegetation acts as a filter between the interior and exterior: on one side, it defines the courtyard space, while on the other, it remains visible from the surrounding streets, offering both aesthetic and environmental benefits to the entire area.
Read the full article here: https://www.laprovinciacr.it/gallery/cronaca/554191/l-ex-banca-d-italia-rinasce-giardino-pensile-sempre-fiorito-con-2-817-piante.html