Sustainable Industrial Design defines LCA Architetti’s N Building
LCA Architetti has designed the facades of the N Building in Italy, focusing on creating an energy-efficient, passive industrial space for Novello Srl. The project prioritizes sustainability, achieved through the design of two main facades: the West and South. The West facade, facing the A8 Highway, features a series of seven large boxes that reference the company’s logistics and wooden home production. These modular volumes, set in a rhythmic sequence, give the appearance of levitating over a platform roof that extends nearly four meters. This design reinterprets the traditional shed structure while maintaining its functional aesthetic, enhancing its modern industrial character. The South facade, facing State Road 20, contrasts the West with its linear design, clad almost entirely in larch wood slats.
all images by Andrea Ceriani
N Building Sets New Standards in Bioecological Architecture
The team at LCA Architetti designed the building to be entirely passive with no conventional heating or air conditioning systems. Instead, the structure relies on high levels of insulation, heat recovery from production equipment, and the integration of renewable energy sources such as sunlight and air. This approach ensures complete energy independence and eliminates CO2 emissions. The use of wood as the primary material reflects the company’s core business in wooden homes and packaging. The building’s construction is a significant example of bioecological and sustainable architecture, with 5,000 cubic meters of wood used, and it was assembled entirely by the company’s staff. Key features of the project include minimal soil usage, prefabrication, energy efficiency, and the use of natural, renewable materials like wood and cellulose. As one of the first of its kind in Italy, and one of the few in Europe of this scale, the N Building sets a precedent for sustainable industrial architecture in both design and function.
LCA Architetti designs the N Building’s facade with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability
the West facade features seven large, modular boxes, referencing Novello’s wooden home production
modular volumes on the West facade create a rhythmic, levitating visual over the platform roof
the platform roof extends nearly four meters, enhancing the building’s industrial aesthetic
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