HomeArchitectureOpen Project inaugurates its new headquarters in Bologna

Open Project inaugurates its new headquarters in Bologna

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40 years after the establishment of the firm and following an important restyling that lasted one year, Open Project inaugurates its new headquarters in via Dolfi, Bologna, a true creative hub where events, exhibitions and talks will be planned.

The new offices of the firm represent a space with unique characteristics, resting on the city walls, between Porta Lame and Porta San Felice, just a few steps from MAMbo, the Museum of Modern Art of Bologna. The geometric structure of the walls can still be seen in the three arches on the ground floor, as well as in the external uncovered area of the building, which is now used as a public park.

It is an architectural complex built in the 16th century, which in the past was the Church of S.S. Trinità with its oratory and hospital, one of the twelve churches erected on the third circle of the city walls, placed between the historic centre and what originally was the countryside and now is the west expansion of the metropolitan area of Bologna.

It covers a space of 1,200 square metres on three floors, which the firm transformed structurally and renovated, restoring all the main architectural and decorative elements, for a redevelopment activity that lasted 12 months.

Over the time, the building has lived many lives, passing from being a church to becoming a dance hall and then a carpenter’s shop. The work carried out by Open Project focused on the creation of a careful balance between refurbishment and preservation of the ancient elements, to create a contemporary environment as far as functionality and author’s style are concerned, while aiming at the enhancement of its important historical stratification.

The complex harmony between the spatial and technical needs of a contemporary office and the characteristics of an ancient building combined with the modernisation of systems and sound design, thanks to functional internal equipment, such as the big acoustic box for meetings, and the furniture.

The box on the ground floor, for example, was designed by the firm and it offers a cosy environment without interrupting the visibility of the original volume, while in the main room on the first floor, where the ceiling has a height over ten metres, the wall was left rough to emphasise the stratification of the place over the centuries.

All the workstations are located in open spaces to foster ongoing dialogue and sharing, a planning approach present also in the different areas of the firm, with spaces allowing people to work in teams and have meetings with other colleagues and a break area promoting sociality.

During the refurbishment, a double series of frescoes was discovered: they can be seen in the main room on the first floor and in a plaque made of stone recalling the history of the building placed at the entrance.

The inauguration of the new headquarters was also the occasion to present the photographic exhibition “Frames of Identity: 40 Years of Architecture”, which shows some of the most iconic images of the projects carried out by Open Project. The exhibition is open to the public from 25th November to 28th February, every day from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.