FIRST PRIZE

The building of the competition is placed on the border of the historical centre of Sassari (Sardinia). The exposed concrete elements of the facade are affected by a huge decay and interior spaces show lack of every sort of functionality, in use, enlightenment, etc.

Our project proposal insists on the renovation and valorization of this sober and elegant structure, avoiding the unfeasible integral substitution of the facade. It’s possible to appreciate from the outside every singular use of the inside space. On the ground floor, we place all functions of public relation between the Bank and the clients. Offices are located upstairs, except on the top floor occupied by the conference hall. The resulted image of the complex is a resembling classical order composition: base, column shaft and capital.

The focus of the project is the remodelling of the main hall opened to the public and its relation with the outside. This area resulted completely isolated from Piazza del Castello so that we decide to open a view towards the square and to introduce natural light in it. With this comfortable and opener surrounding, the activities of the bank such as transactions, contracts and ordinary procedures would be easier to carry out.

On the ground floor, the facade suffers a lack of light openings, so the project plans to eliminate old concrete sunscreen blinds to replace them with glass, silk-screen painted with the colours which represent the company. They reflect the image of the castle that names the adjacent square. The dense vegetation protects the building base from sun rays and restore the historical memory of the site.

During the night the glazed base gets transparent and shows the public relation area of the Bank of Sardinia. Furthermore, the project proposes the total refurbishment of the basement, where the parking, the archives and the vault of the bank reside.