Esthetics, Performance and Sustainability of Materials

By Editorial Staff - 5 November 2024
Cimento has participated in the project

Nestled in the hills outside Bologna, the new campus of the Bologna Business School (BBS) – an international institution that is an offshoot of the University of Bologna – extends the historic Villa Guastavillani by restoring and reconfiguring several existing buildings on the site.

The project by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects extends over 2,500 sq. m and provides space for teaching, offices and meeting rooms. The design criteria emphasized flexibility and a vibrant connection between the interiors and the surrounding landscape – an aspect that was achieved both by the use of extensive glass windows to create visual connections and by the creation of outdoor spaces designed for interaction and sociability of students and faculty.

Sustainability is also at the heart of the design, embodied in choices aimed at saving energy through the use of renewable sources. In this paradigm, the project included the installation of ventilated façades for the exterior envelope of the building, significantly reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling the study and work spaces. Cimento^® Rialto panels, made from Cimento’s patented cementitious compound, were selected for the façade cladding, combining the esthetics and texture of exposed concrete with lightness and ease of installation. A key feature of the Rialto panels is their concealed anchoring system without visible elements, which not only enhances the final esthetic of the building, but also ensures rapid on-site assembly, helping to stick to construction schedules.

MCA also incorporated Cimento into the interior design of the walls and cabinets, using Cimento^® Panels and Cimento^® Will sheets.

Cimento^® Panels, manufactured on an MDF substrate and available in a wide range of finishes and standard colors, are an ideal solution for countertops, suspended ceilings and furniture elements. Cimento^® Will, designed to clad both flat and curved surfaces, is only 3 mm thick and is made of a cement agglomerate reinforced with fiberglass. On the new BBS Campus, Cimento^® products blend seamlessly with other materials such as wood and glass, contributing to the creation of welcoming and comfortable spaces that meet the expectations of the architects, the client and future users.