A hi-tech renovation

A former industrial building in the town of Fossano, province of Cuneo, has been redeveloped as part of a project that preserves aspects of the original volume while introducing a contemporary, functionally sophisticated exterior. Originally built in the 1950s, the structure – which formerly housed the offices and production facilities of the Texilfibra textile factory – had remained unused for over two decades. Following its acquisition by the Informatica EDP software house, the building underwent a comprehensive transformation led by Studio Patrese of Fossano, adapting it to its new corporate function.

The 1,500-square-metre, two-floor building has been converted into the company’s headquarters with a layout that includes not only office and meeting spaces but also large areas devoted to corporate welfare, including a canteen and a recreational space for social interaction and team-building activities. To preserve its historical identity, the redevelopment project retained the volumetric profile of the original factory while radically reimagining its exterior. The new envelope features a double-skin ventilated façade system designed to optimise thermal performance while achieving a modern, refined aesthetic defined by clean lines and geometric volumes.

“The decision to create a ventilated façade allowed for an effective energy retrofit, improving both indoor comfort and the building’s overall efficiency,” explains architect Roberto Patrese. “This approach demonstrates how even a material as seemingly rigid and inflexible as ceramics can be adapted, in this case using 60×120 cm slabs to clad a complex, articulated façade while enhancing the existing pilaster-gable structure.”

Some of Florim’s most sophisticated porcelain stoneware collections played a key role in the project. The external façade was clad with ceramic slabs from the Flowtech line, giving the building a refined industrial aesthetic. Flowtech in the Aged Bronze shade was specifically chosen for the central portal, enhancing and drawing attention to the building’s main entrance. Meanwhile, the custom-built perforated grid and other sections of the façade adopted the Industrial collection in Taupe, a choice that stands out for its robust, contemporary character. The large-format Industrial slabs not only create a uniform, visually striking aesthetic but also deliver outstanding technical performance in terms of weather resistance and thermal insulation. In this case, they form part of a ventilated façade system that optimises the indoor microclimate, enhances comfort and improves energy efficiency. The combination of these solutions achieves a design that seamlessly integrates aesthetics and functionality, giving the headquarters a distinctive and modern identity that reflects its technological and forward-thinking ethos.