The Italian architecture firm MARCANTE-TESTA has tweed up with architect Valter Camagna from UdA | Architects to transform a public office building in Turin, spanning around 3000 sqm, into a vibrant new campus for IED (European Instituto of Design). This endeavor has included a complete overhaul of the building’s systems and layout, ensuring compliance with modern fire safety regulations, all while adopting a creative architectural strategy that meets the specific needs of IED.
The designers have made a deliberate commitment to sustainability by limiting demolition, removal, and renovation activities to only what is absolutely necessary. This strategy not only curtails costs but also minimizes resource consumption and the environmental impact associated with waste management and production.
All functional building elements, including lighting fixtures, metal slatted ceilings, and tile flooring, have been preserved and incorporated into the new design, irrespective of their aesthetic appeal, which is often lacking. This approach transcends the conventional notion of beauty as something that must be entirely new.
The combination of original design features with everyday elements enhances the value of the spaces. This conservative strategy fosters a new layering of signs and meanings on the building’s exterior, allowing for a transformative perception of the spaces through a chromatic intervention featuring geometric forms and selective wall modifications.
The design of classrooms, laboratories, and communal spaces has been reimagined through innovative wall markings, complemented by features such as corner protectors and baseboards, along with the biomorphic graphic contributions of Giorgia Scioratto. This initiative distinguishes each space into a contemporary “below” and a timeless “above,” thereby imbuing the latter with renewed significance and dignity.
This strategy addresses the pressing demand for impactful yet sustainable renovation efforts that utilize resources efficiently. Designers Andrea Marcante and Adelaide Testa, who also serve as coordinators for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs in Interior Design at IED, present this project as a manifesto aimed at promoting sustainable practices in interior design. Their approach emphasizes the use of minimal resources, the avoidance of demolition to reduce waste, and the preservation of existing materials, finishes, coverings, and lighting, thereby enhancing their inherent value.