Mura armchairs for the new headquarters of the University of Bolzano in the former Alumix technology park
LAMM’s compact armchairs bring a sense of sophistication to the wooden auditorium of the newly inaugurated building.
A new building is enhancing the Noi Techpark in Bolzano, a technology park that brings together businesses, start-ups, research centers and applied research laboratories, born from the former Alumix. Following the initial phase, which saw the refurbishment and restoration of two historic buildings previously used for energy transformers, a new building was inaugurated last September, housing the Faculty of Engineering of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano.
The project, resulting from a design competition, is by Olivieri Office with T&D Ingegneri Associati and Simone Langiu. The ground floor is designed for maximum openness, housing experimentation and research areas, the auditorium, and the library, all framed externally by striking concrete partitions. Above, a dark structure is wrapped in expanded aluminium sheet, reflecting the site’s manufacturing origins. The compactness of the massive stracture is softened by patios and terraces designed as oases for students to relax and meet, covered by a total of 700 square metres of vertical greenery. Inside, the building hosts cutting-edge laboratories, research centers, and ultra-modern classrooms for studying robotics, automation, and artificial intelligence. The strength of the Noi Techpark lies in the synergy of different and complementary entities, with 660 research and development projects carried out last year alone, with a total budget of 44.5 million euros.
The project’s main focus is to create inviting spaces, exemplified by the wooden auditorium adorned with 176 Mura armchairs – Gino Gamberini. These compact LAMM chairs, celebrated for winning the prestigious Compasso d’Oro ADI, the world’s oldest and most esteemed design award, add to the cosy atmosphere. These armchairs occupy minimal space and, once the seat is vacated, they compact smoothly as the backrest lowers and aligns vertically. The South Tyrolean auditorium opted for the design with a low backrest, upholstered in Inca leatherette, and a base with a direct floor attachment painted in black. All seats, except those in the first and seventh rows, feature a folding writing tablet.
Project: NOI Techpark Bolzano – Faculty of Engineering unibz
Location: Bolzano, Italy
Client: NOI Techpark Südtirol/Alto Adige
Architects: Davide Olivieri | Olivieri Office with Simone Langiu (young architect)
Engineers: T&D Ingegneri Associati
Local dealer: Dyco Srl
Year: 2024
LAMM supply: 176 Mura armchairs – design Gino Gamberini
Photographer: Daniele Fiorentino