Mondragone Industrial Park: A mixture of sustainability and regional culture

Sep-Dec 2009

Design Team: Ali M. S. Kashkooli (From Iran – Team Leader), Peter Babka (From Czech Republic)

About the project

By increasing the world population a new challenge has been started;75% of the World's natural resources is consumed within 2% of theEarth. Ignoring the role of eco, agro and recycled materials in buildingsincreases pollution, carbon emission and waste of energy and rawmaterials. It is essential to model buildings on natural systems, whichare typically characterized by cyclical processes and symbiotic, mutuallydependent relationships. This project aims to introduce a design workincluding cultural and social aspects of sustainable developments:extended lifecycles, user approval, comfort, aesthetics as well asincorporation of renewable energy sources. It proposes a realisticbuilding design aiming to employ critical techniques and possibilities ofusing eco- and agro-materials. It intends in a site in Mondragone, Italy.Moreover, the concept of Sustainability based on Environment,Economy and Society has been considered through design process.Thus, project tries to meet Energy efficiency, use of renewable energy,green transportation, water and waste management, social harmonyand heritage conservation. The right circulation of energy and materialshas been considered to present the best performance. In summary, MIPis an architectural-sustainable design including solutions in energyefficiency and waste management as well as original cultural values oflocation and requirements of the 21st century. It represents the ZeroCarbon-Zero Energy-Zero Waste attitude in new Industrial spaces.

The project site was located in Mondragone, Italy, Campania, Caserta,about 45km North from Napoli. It rises 10m above the sea level. Theclimatic situation is similar to Napoli. Mondragone is proud of its ancienthistory, industriousness, rich agriculture, wine and mozzarella ofbuffaloes. Hence, sounds a convenient place for industrial activities.Architecture: Mondragone Industrial Park is designed in a 0.066km2land(construction + landscape).The Northern view of it is derived from akind of ancient Roman guard helmet. It presents the cultural-historicalbackground of location, as well as contemporary high-tech forms. Thegeneral shape of the production building is based on dynamic forms inwavy roofs(reveals electric and energetic function). It is recommended todecrease the number of columns in structural design for future functionalchanges(reusability).The building has been designed in three sections:1-Main production and manufacturing part in ground floor(6m height)and3 floors on top for offices within the wavy roofs.2-Parking spaces for staff and visitors, connected to section1 by bridges on‘Lungomare Sinope Road’.3-Storages connected to section1 by bridge. It also has a parking space forload and unloading of materials. The structure is designed as armedconcrete foundations and columns, steel and wooden beams and frames(recycled wood and steel),floors, interior and exterior walls (recycledwood, paper, resins, and sheets of Kaah-gell(a historic vernacular agromaterialused in Persia/Iran),Wavy roofs (composites + green roof).Thelandscape of project is being irrigated by recycled water from buildingsand local sources. The approaches of renewable energy to supportlighting, security, heating, cooling etc. can be seen in the posters. In termsof eco and agro-materials some as Kaah-Gell (dry stalks of cerealplants/Straw + clay)and Low embodied energy materials(wood),recycledmaterials (glass, cellulose, wood, processed steel, concrete etc)areproposed to be used. Compacted straw insulation is used in green roofsand external walls. Wood fiberboard insulation products are also used infloors as acoustic insulation materials. The energy generation system ofbuildings is based on off-grid design approach, which can be defined as anapproach to design buildings in a way not to rely on municipal watersupply, sewer, natural gas, electrical power grid, or similar utility services.Hence, the building runs itself independently by its own energygeneration.