A headquarters for the future

The ancient Latin saying “Nomina sunt consequentia rerum” (“names are the consequences of things”) seems particularly appropriate in the case of Esseti Meccanica di Precisione, whose name clearly sums up the company’s mission: high-complexity, quality and precision mechanical engineering and prototyping for the aeronautical, packaging and other sectors. This dynamic company is one of the leading centres of excellence for which Italy is famous throughout the world. In recent years, the long-felt need to expand production and create more suitable office space prompted the owners to consider building new premises. “Esseti’s new headquarters were created in 2016 by demolishing and rebuilding a factory that had been out of use since the Emilia region was struck by an earthquake in 2012,” explains architect Maria Teresa Fantini from Studio Tecnico Modena Associati, who oversaw the architectural project with the company’s needs and values in mind. “In a second phase, the building itself was expanded, the office block was built and all the exterior landscaping work completed. The result was a total operating area of approximately 3,700 square metres surrounded by a large private free space.” The reconstruction project focused strongly on environmental sustainability and included the creation of a thermally insulated envelope and a large photovoltaic system on the roof. The same care was devoted to the selection of materials with a preference for steel and aluminium, cold materials that are strongly representative of Esseti’s core business. Ceramic surfaces from Panaria Ceramica are used extensively throughout almost the entire building with the exception of the production spaces. The entrance lobby features a striking “ceramic carpet” consisting of porcelain stoneware from the Context collection in the colour Mansion. The installation pattern is a patchwork of sub-sizes obtained by cutting large format slabs. The lobby is dominated by the dramatic spiral staircase leading to the first floor and the offices. It was built by assembling prefabricated concrete elements on site, which were subsequently covered with pre-assembled, laser-cut porcelain pieces obtained from Context collection large-size slabs chosen in the same colour as the ceramic carpet. The staircase railing is made of stainless steel, while the light fixtures above the landing are made of aluminium. All the first-floor offices were also paved with Context tiles in a 60×120 cm size and in the paler Loft beige version to achieve a lighter overall effect. “One exception is the bathrooms, where we chose the Horizon collection, a delicate and very natural-looking stone effect tile, in alternation with the concrete-effect wall tiles from the Even collection, which are highly textural and pleasant to the touch,” explains Maria Teresa Fantini. “The tiling was completed with the original Framework geometric pattern, which coordinates well with the clarity of these surfaces to give the room a warmer and livelier feel in keeping with the furnishings. The walls near the entrance to the meeting room (a high transit area) were tiled with Be Black Lux large 300×100 cm panels from the Zero.3 Must collection.”