In 2022, the city administration of Novi Ligure announced a competition to design the redevelopment of the “Cavallerizza”, an abandoned historical building that used to house the cavalry stables, to host the new Novese Enogastronomic Academy. The basic premise of our proposal was to enhance the historic building by redeveloping it without any expansion but by surrounding it with a series of outdoor public spaces that can be used in synergy with the activities carried out inside.
The space to the east of the building resulting from the demolition of the abandoned former market building called "le vele," is reused for a new public green area. This space is configured as a small green oasis to be used in close contact with the food and wine academy. The paved area is defined by a velarium made of a lightweight metal structure available for the community to house special events such as the weekly outdoor market, manor festivals, fairs, etc. The remaining area around the building is completely pedestrianized. To the south of the Cavallerizza is a linear plaza that will provide access to the new Academy of Taste and will be used as an outdoor continuation of the spaces on the ground floor of the building. Inside the intervention is configured with the re-proposition of a "mezzanine" on the north side while maintaining a large double-height open space on the south side facing the outside through the arcades. The building is thus organized on two independent levels: on the ground floor are the functions more related to public use, even occasional, while on the first floor are spaces related to training and special activities. The project was designed in accordance with the best practices of sustainable building, according to the C.A.M. (minimal environmental standards) of Italian Ministry of the Environment and the LEED ® standard.
