INTEGRATED
ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE

Cornigliano Ligure is widely recognised for the colossal ILVA steelworks plant, its history of workers' struggles, and its identity as a proud working-class neighbourhood. However, few are aware that before the Fordist era, Cornigliano was a charming seaside resort frequented by the emerging bourgeoisie of the late 19th century. Even earlier, it was a leisure destination for Genoese aristocratic families, as evidenced by the monumental villas that still stand, now seamlessly integrated into the urban fabric. Finally, very few people know that the entrepreneurial journey of a Genoese family, renowned for their sweets, began in Cornigliano. Specifically, the famous Dufour factory was established here in 1926. Though the factory's production activities have long since moved on, its former spaces are now home to local sports associations that are very active in the neighbourhood. The new building project creates a seamless stereometric continuity with the roof of the existing structure, to which it is connected by means of a covered tunnel. The new structure is only partially a volumetric expansion, as it follows targeted demolitions of portions of the existing building. The project utilises mainly dry construction technologies and benefits from BIM management, ensuring that the activities of local associations continue uninterrupted, maintaining essential continuity in space usage. The selection of materials focused on innovative technologies and sustainable practices, incorporating materials from virtuous reuse cycles, such as the polycarbonate used for the facades. The building's thermal performance and incorporation of renewable energy sources will ensure it achieves "near zero" energy consumption, providing exceptional comfort with minimal energy use. This will be the first public building in Genoa to obtain LEED certification throughout all phases, from design to execution, with the shared goal of achieving the highest level of LEED certification (LEED Platinum). Additionally, the exterior areas, once dominated by cars and asphalt, are now transformed into welcoming spaces for the neighbourhood. The new design features light-coloured, permeable pavement and the planting of two new tree species: a Platanor Vallis Clausa and a Ginkgo biloba. Photo credit: Anna Positano and Gaia Gambiacci (Studio Campo)