CX Bologna Navile, student housing 
The design goal is to create a building that encourages interaction between students and integrates with the wider urban environment. The building is designed as a U-shaped structure whose two arms follow the boundaries of the lot and rise parallel to the adjacent building, creating a central courtyard that fosters a sense of community among residents. The different heights of the building facades are designed to harmonize with the surrounding urban context and optimize the use of space. The towers at the ends provide additional living capacity and serve as architectural landmarks. The use of colors and the different designs of the facades underline the internal/external contrast.
The building houses a student residence and a minority portion of a hotel. There are 630 beds with a total Gross Floor Area of 21,000 square meters. On the ground floor, there are common recreational and study spaces, as well as a bar and restaurant. In the basement, there are parking spaces and bicycle spots for the users of the facility. The rooftop, the internal courtyard, and the porticoed sections on the ground floor provide recreational and relaxation areas. The exterior facades feature a gradient of light blue that fades upwards, creating a visual connection with the sky. On the opposite corner façade, the color gradient proceeds in the opposite way, lighter at the bottom and darker at the top, emphasizing the dematerialization effect, which is particularly appreciated on the corners of the building. This design choice softens the building’s presence and allows it to blend more naturally with its surroundings.
The building is equipped with photovoltaic and thermal solar panels, reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources. Protection from excessive sunlight, naturally aiding summer cooling, is achieved through mobile sunshades and strategically placed photovoltaic panels that both generate energy and reduce consumption. The fourth-floor roof will feature a terrace and an extensive green roof. Advanced rainwater collection and reuse systems are implemented for irrigating green areas. An appropriately sized recycling center on the ground floor will facilitate waste sorting. Aiming for high environmental performance and BREEAM-level efficiency, the project promotes pedestrian and bicycle mobility over vehicular traffic by designing areas equipped for bicycle storage and maintenance.
Location
Bologna, Italy
Year
2024
Area
21342 sqm
Design team
Luigi Benatti, Pietro Benedettini, Martina Iafrate, Sara Stefanati, Ottavio Bariselli, Tayimi Campa, Roberta Boiero, Massimo Savini, Claudia Pacchiega, Daniele Mietto
Client
CampusX/Techbau S.p.a
Status
In progress
Visualization
Akash Moish/Kaushik Vadher
CX Bologna Navile, student housing
The design goal is to create a building that encourages interaction between students and integrates with the wider urban environment. The building is designed as a U-shaped structure whose two arms follow the boundaries of the lot and rise parallel to the adjacent building, creating a central courtyard that fosters a sense of community among residents. The different heights of the building facades are designed to harmonize with the surrounding urban context and optimize the use of space. The towers at the ends provide additional living capacity and serve as architectural landmarks. The use of colors and the different designs of the facades underline the internal/external contrast.
The building houses a student residence and a minority portion of a hotel. There are 630 beds with a total Gross Floor Area of 21,000 square meters. On the ground floor, there are common recreational and study spaces, as well as a bar and restaurant. In the basement, there are parking spaces and bicycle spots for the users of the facility. The rooftop, the internal courtyard, and the porticoed sections on the ground floor provide recreational and relaxation areas. The exterior facades feature a gradient of light blue that fades upwards, creating a visual connection with the sky. On the opposite corner façade, the color gradient proceeds in the opposite way, lighter at the bottom and darker at the top, emphasizing the dematerialization effect, which is particularly appreciated on the corners of the building. This design choice softens the building’s presence and allows it to blend more naturally with its surroundings.
The building is equipped with photovoltaic and thermal solar panels, reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources. Protection from excessive sunlight, naturally aiding summer cooling, is achieved through mobile sunshades and strategically placed photovoltaic panels that both generate energy and reduce consumption. The fourth-floor roof will feature a terrace and an extensive green roof. Advanced rainwater collection and reuse systems are implemented for irrigating green areas. An appropriately sized recycling center on the ground floor will facilitate waste sorting. Aiming for high environmental performance and BREEAM-level efficiency, the project promotes pedestrian and bicycle mobility over vehicular traffic by designing areas equipped for bicycle storage and maintenance.
Location
Bologna, Italy
Year
2024
Area
21342 sqm
Design team
Luigi Benatti, Pietro Benedettini, Martina Iafrate, Sara Stefanati, Ottavio Bariselli, Tayimi Campa, Roberta Boiero, Massimo Savini, Claudia Pacchiega, Daniele Mietto
Client
CampusX/Techbau S.p.a
Status
In progress
Visualization
Akash Moish/Kaushik Vadher
