A New Concept of Open Space

By Editorial Staff - 6 September 2023

For the headquarters of the Municipal Services Company (Azienda Servizi Municipalizzati) of Merano, the South Tyrolean firm Busselli Scherer Architekten designed a project that goes beyond the traditional idea of open space, arriving at a concept based on modularity and inclusivity, thanks to the use of glass partitions and a specially designed room layout.

The reuse project of a former warehouse located near the historic hippodrome has preserved some defining characteristics that connotate the industrial nature of the building, maintaining the charm derived from its artisanal manufacturing past. On the exterior, the architecture is simple: the form follows the boundaries of the lot with a curved façade and metal cladding opened by large, full-height ribbon windows. On the interior, the new headquarters covers about 1,800 sq. m across two floors and was designed to house administrative offices for around 50 employees, in addition to meeting rooms, common spaces for workers, relaxation areas, and counters open to the public.

Sede centrale Azienda Servizi Municipalizzati - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten Le divisioni tra gli ambienti sono pensate per essere modificate nel tempo, al fine di garantire la massima flessibilità d’uso dell’edificio.

The search for light was one of the guiding elements of the project: all the offices are located on the perimeter of the building in order to take advantage of the large windows, with the meeting rooms and common areas in the central portions. The partitions between different environments were realized with glass walls that allow natural light to filter to the innermost parts of the building and offer an openness and visibility typical of open spaces, while surpassing this model in favor of greater privacy and acoustic quality. Another design criteria of the project was flexibility: the divisions can be modified and moved, favoring versatility of the spaces and collaboration between employees.

The traditional and austere character of the historic building – rough concrete pillars, cement walls and exposed ceiling fixtures – was softened with careful interior design. Custom-made wood-grained furniture, carpeted floors, upholstered seating with curvy lines, sophisticated choices for lighting fixtures, and sound-absorbing fabrics lend elegance and comfort to the spaces without obscuring their industrial character.

Sede centrale Azienda Servizi Municipalizzati - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten Gli interni sono caratterizzati da arredi su misura in legno venato, da morbide sedute dalle forme arrotondate e da una palette di colori dalle tonalità pastello.

In addition to these elements which ubiquitously pervade the space, Busselli Scherer Architekten wanted to insert some design accents to mark the environments. One of these is the large helical staircase which connects the two levels: a structure made of metal and cast-in-place concrete – in which steel stringers were used as disposable formworks – with a typical rough, textural finishing of exposed concrete. Lastly, in the lobby, designed as a welcoming and informal space, the front desk constitutes another strong architectural symbol: a multi-faceted, textural volume, with dark colors and topped by a “starry sky” composed of many hanging dotted lighting fixtures.

The partitions realized with glass walls offer an openness and visibility typical of open spaces, while surpassing this model in favor of greater privacy and acoustic quality.

Municipal Services Company Headquarters - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten | The desk strongly connotates the entrance area: pointed towards the main door, this element captures the attention of the visitor with its plastic forms.

Municipal Services Company Headquarters - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten | The waiting areas dedicated to the public are characterized by an informal style designed for living.

Municipal Services Company Headquarters - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten | The transparent dividing walls make it possible to maintain the communication typical of open spaces without compromising the privacy of the workstations.

Municipal Services Company Headquarters - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten | The interiors are characterized by custom-made grained wood furnishings, soft seating with round forms, and a pastel color palette.

Municipal Services Company Headquarters - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten | The desk is topped by a body of hanging, punctual lighting fixtures that create the effect of a starry sky.

Municipal Services Company Headquarters - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten | The interior design aimed to soften the industrial character of the building while maintaining its distinctive traits.

Municipal Services Company Headquarters - Davide Perbellini, courtesy Busselli Scherer Architekten | The divisions between the environments were designed to be modified over time to guarantee maximum flexibility in the use of the building.

Location: Merano (Bolzano), Italy
Client: Azienda Servizi Municipalizzati di Merano
Completion: 2022
Gross Floor Area: 1,800 m²
Architect and Interior Designer: Busselli Scherer Architekten
Main Contractor: Carron Bau

Consultants
Structures and Safety Coordinators: Baubüro, Pfeifer Partners
Electrical, Mechanical and Energy Efficiency: Energytech

Photography: Davide Perbellini, courtesy of Busselli Scherer Architekten

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