Piazza della Repubblica, Sesto San Giovanni - Headquarters Uniabita

Headquarters in Sesto San Giovanni cooperative UNIABITA - Piazza della Repubblica .
Located in the city center , the renovation work was carried out on a building of little architectural value but with high symbolic value in that for many years it was the headquarters for the police, and thereafter , until 2005, Political headquarters. The works were carried out between April 2006 and September 2007. The intervention resulted in significant structural changes in order to provide flexibility to the building which, because of the original masonry structure , had none . The underlying theme of the intervention was the desire to create continuity between interior and exterior , creating a visual dialogue between the city and building , so as to reinterpret the role of focal point of the square , which had been done only on a symbolic level . This objective was pursued through a series of structural works , carried out at all levels, which led to the demolition of seven encompassing internal load bearing walls and the facade replaced by iron pillars and plinths. The facade liberated of much of the structure was then clad in a continuous glass facade . The rectilinear facades were instead clad using a ventilated structure in Alucobond , while on the interior elevations were clad in a thermal coating. To ensure maximum flexibility the interior partitions were made with movable wall units . Inclined glass walls were used for the reception allowing the viewing of the whole square , in order to ensure the continuity and dialogue between the internal and external .