The story of Pala Todisco, a new multifunctional conference centre in San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, is one of renewal, transformation, environmental awareness and community. Conceived by the chairman of the Todisco Group, an Italian company operating in the commodity chemicals sector, the venue was completed in just nine months as part of the sustainable redevelopment of an abandoned site that once housed a munitions factory.
Designed to host events and conventions, Pala Todisco stands out not only for its impressive scale but also for its commitment to sustainability. The complex includes a more than 3,000 square metre auditorium with seating for nearly 500 people, approximately 2,500 square metres of office space, and an additional 4,000 square metres of outdoor areas. As Todisco Group representatives explain, the structure was built entirely from wood and plasterboard, with concrete used only for the foundations. It is fully energy self-sufficient, thanks to a photovoltaic system that generates three times the building’s expected energy consumption, and it also features a water recovery system that collects clean water for irrigation. The building’s ventilated external façades are clad in porcelain stoneware from Caesar’s Portraits collection, a stone-effect line in the elegant Faro shade, installed in a 120×278 cm format. This choice ensures a seamless connection between the architecture and the surrounding natural landscape, with the same collection also used for the flooring. Two additional collections from the Fiorano Modenese-based company were selected for the bathrooms and other interior spaces: Join, which recreates the refined aesthetic of cement-resin, and Key Mood, inspired by classic Italian stone. Together, these materials forge a contemporary architectural identity that embodies transformation and renewal.
