Salewa International Headquarters | Cino Zucchi Architetti + Park Associati

At a young age we were exposed to the saying, or some variation of the quote, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” From that we learn that having a balance between work and pleasure will provide one with a more fulfilled life and a more enjoyable one.For architects, designing and planning projects are as fun and as interesting as we make them, the more invested one is to their project the more creativity and ideas they have towards it to the point that the work hardly seems like work at all, but instead an adventure.

photography by © Cino Zucchi and Park Associati

The new Salewa International Headquarters by Cino Zucchi Architetti + Park Associati represents a point of convergence between different elements of everyday life, from physical, social and communicative dimensions to work and leisure.Located in Bolzano, Italy, adjacent to the Bolzano highway, this complex consists of a series of multifaceted slabs and towers, including a 50 meter high structure, which when built will be the tallest building in the city. With the intention of housing new work spaces and an indoor climbing gym, the building aims to provide a space for interaction and communication between the company and its network of suppliers, partners and clients.The skin of the structure combines an electro-coloured micro-perforated aluminium skin, which protects the most exposed parts of the building, with a large vertical glass covering. The play of these materials creates a visual effect similar to rock crystal that is emphasized by the faceted forms of the structures. The contrast of the materials, the think sheet metal-like pillars and the delicate protective layers, reveal an interplay of visible and invisible areas on the facades, echoing the interior conditions that focus on the balance of work and play.