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Military building in white aluminum shell
The four new buildings of the Villaggio Alpino Tempesti logistics and training center show how military architecture can be designed in a contemporary and sympathetic way.
Military building in white aluminum shell
“A modern and innovative army must be recognizable to outsiders through contemporary architecture,” says Claudio Lucchin. The Bolzano architect and his office partner Daniela Varnier consciously decided against traditional rusticity and are opting for a visible image change with clear lines and a radiantly bright aluminum shell. It's about creating identity for the mountain troops who are stationed here, as well as for the up to 200 training guests every year.
White aluminum, modern and climate-friendly
The building envelopes consist of “Prefalz” aluminum sheets in “P.10-Prefa white”, which are used on the roof and the facade. The choice of color and material is no coincidence. Thanks to their high albedo value, the facades reflect the intense solar radiation at altitude, appear climate-resilient and ensure pleasant ambient temperatures. This not only shapes the microclimate, but also the visual perception of the buildings.
A new type of military construction, realized in a very short time
In just a few months, 1,700 m² of roof area and 2,100 m² of net facade area were implemented. Due to the exposed, alpine location and the safety-relevant function, there were high technical requirements, including fire protection, which the material meets in an exemplary manner. The implementation also required the utmost precision: the “Prefalz” panels were planned and prefabricated to size in the workshop and then laid horizontally in irregular widths, structured by precise fold lines. They were divided into three meter long sections and fixed to the substructure of the ventilated facade with adhesive and sliding points due to the stretching of the material.
What is particularly striking is the coordination of the panels with the window frames that protrude prominently from the facade. Each window starts at one fold line and ends at another to deliberately emphasize the structure of the material. This grid visually stretches the long buildings and at the same time gives them structure. The design is based on an image that Lucchin himself formulates: “Like mountain peaks – white in winter, hardly noticeable between the snowy slopes and plateaus, and in summer they stand out in contrast to the green pastures.”
“Wood and metal always belong together”
The project was realized by Unionbau AG, a general contractor with a focus on wood and metal construction. Project manager Simon Patzleiner coordinated the entire timber construction and facade work. For him, wood and metal always belong together. The entrance areas of the buildings take up this idea: wooden paneling creates a warm, inviting effect, a rare quality in the context of military buildings. The “Tempesti” barracks is therefore a successful example of a new type of military building that stands for openness and appreciation.
(bt)
