Former GAVINA Shop by Carlo Scarpa

In Bologna in the heart of the historic center

Located on the ground floor of an old building in the historic center of Bologna, on Via Altabella. It was designed by Carlo Scarpa in 1961 on a commission from Dino Gavina, who wanted a showroom for his furniture in the heart of the city's historic center, following the example of Adriano Olivetti, who had a store with a similar concept, also by Carlo Scarpa, built in Piazza San Marco in Venice.

Scarpa's intervention is a remarkable example of integration between the ancient buildings of Bologna's historic center and elements of modern architecture. The store is characterized by its concrete facade, which covers the exterior of the building of medieval origin, also opening three irregularly shaped glass surfaces: a double-ring window, a large oculus and the central entrance, covered by a gate. According to Scarpa's architectural conception, great importance is given to the materials used: in fact, the concrete is worked in bands with different chisel points and partitioned by gold leaf bands, while the crystals of the windows flush with the facade are supported by bronze and cast iron studs.

In the interior, Scarpa reduced the original fragmentation of spaces, giving the rooms depth by arranging numerous vertical elements: pillars with elaborate wrought concrete surfaces, cobalt-colored and glossy white stucco, enriched with silver leaf. Source: Wikipedia