2018
The existing premises of the Banca Raiffeisen in Lodrino are located along the LONA Line, an important historical landmark of the Second World War and a national military monument. The LONA Line (LO represents the village of Lodrino, NA that of Osogna) is a series of anti-tank obstacles with artillery emplacements that was constructed between 1939 and 1943 as a defensive barrier and blockade across the valley to halt a possible invasion from the south. But its importance is not only historical. In fact for Lodrino today it represents a fundamental urban axis that crosses the village and connects the various public facilities.
In addition to redesigning the bank’s interior, the project proposes the development of the existing building, relating it to the LONA Line through the construction of an extension in its direction. At the same time, the side of the building facing the street, the parking spaces and the garden are to be redefined, the latter becoming a public area.
The Lodrino branch office of the Banca Raiffeisen is seeking a new look, a contemporary architectural image for its premises. The building, which dates from 1985, is basically in good condition but has poor insulation and needs renovating with energy-saving measures.
Global warming entails that buildings in the future will need to be protected from heat. Based on this consideration, our proposal has been to cover the volume with a green façade, at the same time giving the existing construction a new architectural appearance. A green façade affects a building’s thermal regulation: in winter, it helps limit heat loss, protecting the walls against the wind; in summer, the green layer ensures the reduction of the surface temperature of the outer walls, the air gap giving the advantages of a ventilated wall by increasing its heat resistance. Also of consequence is the fact that the work can be undertaken while the building remains operational. It is thus proposed to construct a framework in galvanized steel to be fixed to the façade in concrete in line with the pattern of existing markings on the walls. This structure is completed with cables in stainless steel fixed to the ground so that the vegetation – suitable for our climate – can grow and develop independently, requiring little but regular maintenance.