Brixen Music School. A unique architectural project, signed by Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli, which reinterprets the archetype of the enclosure and creates a 'Wunderkammer' experience, the project represents the new gateway to the city.
In the heart of Bressanone, the oldest city in Tyrol, stands an architectural structure that goes beyond its practical function, transforming itself into a symbol of urban imagination and creativity. The Music School of Bressanone, a work created by the Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli architecture studio based in Treviso, blends harmoniously with the city's urban planning, transforming a simple building into a "wunderkammer" that opens up to the city and defines new urban scenarios .
Founded way back in 1961, this musical institution has not only become a cultural beacon in the area, but has also shaped the city's very identity, attracting students from across the region and beyond. The design approach to this new headquarters was meticulous, embracing every detail from inception to final construction, including space organization, furniture design and signage. With over 1000 students passing through the doors of this facility daily, the school represents one of the cornerstones of education in the area.
Strategically located in the northern part of the city, close to the historic centre, this structure is not simply a functional building, but represents a new gateway to the city itself. Located in the Priel area, intended to house various collective infrastructures such as the Acquarena municipal swimming pool and the Vertikale climbing wall, the Music School acts as a fundamental element in the urban fabric.
This structure is part of an ambitious urban redevelopment project, which also includes the construction of an underground public car park on two levels in the northern part and a square in the southern area. These elements help create a vital connection between the historic Brenner state road and the city's modern facilities, such as the swimming pool and gym.
One of the hallmarks of this project is its ability to blend underground road flows with pedestrian paths at different levels. The Music School acts as a central node, ensuring a spatial fluidity that enriches the surrounding urban environment. The structure itself is incredibly flexible, overcoming topographical challenges and elevation differences, helping to create a harmonious and accessible experience for all.
From a morphological point of view, the project draws inspiration from the settlement principles of the historic city, reinterpreting the archetype of the enclosure. The building blends beautifully with its surroundings through a distinctive compact massing, where a 'music garden' opens up as an inviting open-air room, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Another noteworthy element is the clever management of natural light in the project. The spaces are strategically arranged to capture maximum sunlight, creating bright and welcoming environments. The use of curtains and pastel colors helps to create a warm and homely atmosphere.
The structure, largely made of exposed reinforced concrete, is striking for the coherence between its structure and its architectural design. Its solid and uniform presence, without superficial additions, blends with the historical context and local materials. The combination of red porphyry aggregates and pigments in the concrete gives the building a color and texture that recall local tradition.
In summary, the Brixen School of Music stands as an example of architectural excellence, where art, architecture, engineering and urban planning come together in perfect harmony. This project is not just a building, but a gift to the community, a form of expression that embraces the city itself. The Bressanone Music School is much more than a structure; it is a place where past, present and future merge in a fascinating symphony of creativity and functionality.
project info
PROJECT NAME: Brixen Music School
STREET ADDRESS: Piazza Priel 7A, 39042 Bressanone (BZ, Italy)
ARCHITECT: Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli (Michel Carlana, Luca Mezzalira, Curzio Pentimalli)
PROJECT TEAM: Michel Carlana, Luca Mezzalira, Curzio Pentimalli, Giada Cattelan, Alessio Oliviero, Alessandro Zotta
CLIENT: Municipality of Bressanone (BZ), Engineer Renato Sette (Sole Procedure Manager)
COMPETITION: December 2014, 1st prize
DESIGN PHASE: 2015 - 2017
CONSTRUCTION: 2018 - 2021
COMPLETION: March 2021
PROJECT AREA: 6.285 m5.312 (gross lot area), XNUMX mXNUMX (gross buildings)
COST: 9.838.237,47 €
UNDERTAKING: Unionbau (general contractor), Askeen (external windows and doors), Elektro Plaickner (electrical system), Larcher (hydro-thermo-sanitary and mechanical system)
ACOUSTIC CONSULTANCY (PROJECT PHASE): Müller-BBM
ACOUSTIC CONSTRUCTION PROJECT (CONSTRUCTION PHASE): Studio Architect Eleonora Strada
PROJECT AND WORK MANAGEMENT OF STRUCTURES, SYSTEMS, FIRE FIGHTING: Bergmeister
SAFETY COORDINATION IN THE DESIGN AND EXECUTION PHASE: Bergmeister
GENERAL WORK MANAGEMENT: Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli, 3M Engineering
GRAPHICS AND SIGNAGE: Studio Mut
PROVIDERS
Krapf Gottfried (custom-made furniture)
Trias (series furnishings)
Serima (infographics and signage)
Obrist (multimedia system)
MATERIALS
Structure in exposed reinforced concrete with aggregates in porphyry and pigments: Unionbau, Beton Lana
Bushhammering of exposed concrete: Steinmetzbetreib Miedl
Natural wood windows and doors covered in anodized aluminium: Askeen
Portal jambs in marmorino: Decor
Floors in smooth screed with seeding of aggregates: Boden Service
Oiled natural oak wood floors: Seeber
Wooden cladding for stairs and special rooms: Hutter Acustix
Made-to-measure metal doors and gratings: Dorner Building
Production and installation of infographics and signs: Serima
PHOTOGRAPHER: ©Armin Linke, ©Marco Cappelletti
