ACC Naturale Architettura Cristiana Catino and Negozio Blu Architetti (Ambrosini, Gatti, Grometto), former designers of the original Eataly, envisioned a symbolic architectural marvel to embody Green Pea’s strategic vision: a structure deeply rooted in sustainability and constructed with innovative technologies and natural materials. Developed for Eataly Real Estate, Green Pea marks the culmination of the revitalisation of the former Carpano Lingotto industrial area, a pivotal project driving regeneration in southern Turin.
Resilience, eco-sustainability, and material reclamation define Green Pea. The building’s organic form, characterised by multifaceted contours, spans five floors reaching a height of 25 m, aligning with the existing urban landscape and extending Eataly’s facade. Its north-south orientation and uniquely flared top floor are meticulously crafted to adapt to climatic variations, optimising solar exposure.
The external facade comprises a dual layer of surfaces: an outer shell of wooden sunshade slats, supported by a steel framework, acts as a technical filter, fostering connectivity with the surroundings while shielding against solar radiation. Crafted from heat-treated fir wood sourced from storm-ravaged forests in Trentino Val di Fiemme and Bellunese, traditionally used for musical instrument soundboards, these slats symbolise resilience and sustainability.
Conversely, the internal structure features KVH solid wood sandwich panels insulated with wood fibre and clad in sheet metal, punctuated by expansive glass surfaces to infuse interiors with natural light. The building’s facades delineate a sequence of pedestrian spaces adorned with both paved and verdant landscapes.
The load-bearing steel structure, constructed with recyclable materials, facilitates dry assembly via bolts, ensuring ease of dismantling and prolonging the building’s lifecycle. Organised into vertical sections during construction, the system optimises efficiency and flexibility in space utilisation.
Greenery is seamlessly integrated into the architecture through lush terraces housing tall trees in spacious containers, imbuing the building with a vibrant, organic essence. Carefully selected vegetation, tailored to local climatic conditions, adorns the building’s exteriors, fostering a symbiotic relationship between architecture and nature.
Internally, a cohesive design ethos centred on natural light and traditional materials, such as lime and wood, accentuated by opulent elements like leather and velvet, offers a sensory-rich experience reflective of Green Pea’s ethos of conscious consumption. Parquet flooring, crafted from reclaimed wood sourced from Val Varaita riverbeds, underscores the commitment to sustainability.
Green Pea employs a diverse array of renewable energy sources, including geothermal wells, photovoltaic panels, solar arrays, mini wind turbines, and piezoelectric flooring, harnessing kinetic energy from user movement. These integrated strategies maximise energy efficiency, earning Green Pea an Itaca Protocol score of 3.5 and A3-class NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) certification.Green Pea in Turin blends sustainability and innovation, utilizing natural materials and technology for an adaptable, eco-friendly structure.
