Space for ideas and encounters
Antonio Curlante, Property and Facility Director of the Lavazza Group, takes us behind the scenes of Nuvola Lavazza headquarters in Turin.
The Nuvola Lavazza headquarters in Turin is an impressive example of modern architecture and workplace design. What were the main objectives in the planning and realisation of this project?
Nuvola Lavazza marks the return of the industrial area to the citizens of the Aurora district. The complex, with a sinuous shape resembling a cloud, spans an entire city block in Turin: around 30,000 m², including both restored and newly built structures, oriented towards the values of environmental sustainability and urban quality of life.
The main objective of the project was to address the need for a new, unique, and innovative headquarters for the company. In reality, the project achieved a broader result with a strong “social” attitude: strengthening the bond with people and the area. Several reasons determined the choice of the former power plant on Via Bologna. Its strategic position, near the centre of Turin and with excellent connections to the urban transport network, in addition to its proximity to places linked to our history and its existing Turin offices, represents a strong logistical motivation. The ethical-environmental commitment and the desire to recover a disused area within the city, avoiding the consumption of non-urbanised land, along with the opportunity to redevelop the entire district, reflect the aspiration towards the principles of environmental sustainability.
The attention and respect given to the existing territory and cultural heritage have been expressed not only in the restoration of historical buildings, transformed into large event spaces for collective use (the former power station), the Lavazza Museum (the former transformer station), and the IAAD headquarters (the building of the “Institute of Applied Arts and Design” along Via Pisa), but also in the conservation intervention and public opening of an archaeological find of a Paleo-Christian basilica from the 3rd-4th century A.D., discovered during construction.
The Italian word “Nuvola” means “cloud” and the headquarters offers employees a stimulating, liveable and technologically advanced workplace.
Nuvola Lavazza combines both historical and modern elements. How have these been harmonised?
The architecture of the new Lavazza Group headquarters, the only newly constructed work in the entire project, in the words of architect Cino Zucchi, “aims to combine the latest research on new workplaces with high environmental quality, without forgetting the ‘urban’ dimension that a place like this must have.” The new building spreads sinuously, functionally connecting the historic buildings that have been maintained and restored to new uses.
This development gives the intervention a strong sense of openness towards the existing context, where all the workspaces overlook the surroundings through the “green filter” of the new gardens. The heights and quality of the facades have been studied in relation to solar orientation, the quality of open spaces, and the existing buildings. The top of the building reaches seven floors above ground, while the side facing the green square consists of three floors above ground and a large terrace. The two underground floors house company parking and a storage area. On the ground floor, the activities are concentrated on public interaction: reception hall, meeting rooms, relaxation area, gym, a shop, and showroom.
The office spaces are located on the first and second floors of the lower building, as well as part of the third, fourth, and fifth floors of the main building on Largo Brescia. The third floor hosts the institutional area and access to the large terrace with a roof garden; the sixth floor is dedicated to the directors. Carefully studied pathways, ensuring great fluidity, connect the various environments, offering informal opportunities for meeting and exchange between employees and visitors, integrating new-concept workstations.
The urban transformation and regeneration of the complex is articulated in multiple areas: redevelopment of routes, both vehicular and pedestrian, and the creation of new spaces for community gatherings.
Coffee as a cultural connector
How was the “coffee” theme integrated into the design of Nuvola Lavazza?
Certainly, an important central space is dedicated to coffee, to the point that the Lavazza Group decided to dedicate… a museum to it!
It is an innovative corporate museum that allows one to embark on a sensory-emotional journey into the global culture of coffee, intertwining the story with the history of the Lavazza family and, through it, the Italian industrial history of the 20th century. The museum is organised into five “galleries”: Casa Lavazza summarises almost 130 years of history, La Fabbrica focuses on coffee production, while La Piazza celebrates its ritual. L’Atelier explains the company’s creative collaborations, and Universo invites visitors to find their place in the Lavazza experience.
Nuvola Lavazza has achieved LEED Platinum certification. Sustainability was ensured by adhering to a true “sustainable construction site decalogue” that committed the involved companies to strict environmental protection rules during the realisation of the work.
The brand Lavazza stands for excellent coffee – both at home and in the office. Do you think that the availability of good coffee influences the choice of where to work?
I believe that the expectations of young people entering the workforce, particularly in this post-pandemic period, are mainly focused on the possibility of frequently working remotely. This guarantees freedom and autonomy. However, also spending quality time within their workplace is essential, where they can meet colleagues, exchange ideas and projects, and experience their day intensely through all the spaces and services that the company itself can offer.
For the workplace to be attractive, appealing and profitable, it must be much more than just a workplace, but a place that offers comfort, concentration, teamwork, but also well-being; a place where you can eat well, spend your free time exercising and, of course, enjoy a cup of good coffee!
For us Italians, the coffee ritual represents a social moment to create or strengthen bonds, to talk about everything, from work to a project we have in mind, whether work-related or personal: so, a good coffee is certainly a guarantee of building relationships and creating networks, which in my opinion is essential within every company.
And last but not least: How important is coffee to you personally?
For me, coffee represents an inseparable part of my daily routine: the aroma, the ritual gestures, the creaminess, and its flavour make the day special, adding a unique touch to every moment. From the first coffee in the morning, which marks the beginning of the day with energy, to the small coffee breaks shared with colleagues in the office; these moments are essential for me to recharge and refocus.
Moreover, I believe that coffee goes beyond being just a drink; it is a cultural and social symbol that brings people together. It is a medium through which stories, ideas, and emotions are shared. I consider myself a coffee lover in every sense, and for me, it is always a pleasure to discover new blends and savour them in the company of others.
The offices at the Lavazza Group headquarters have been furnished with Sedus furniture solutions to create a smart working environment geared to sharing, efficiency and employee well-being.
Conclusion: A forward-looking place, with roots
With Nuvola Lavazza, a headquarters has been created that goes far beyond its functional purpose. It is a vibrant hub that tells the story of a company, bringing its values to life, and at the same time offering a modern and attractive working environment. The combination of tradition and innovation, architecture and sustainability, as well as work and quality of life, makes Nuvola Lavazza a flagship project – for the Lavazza Group and for the city of Turin.
The interview with Antonio Curlante was first published in the Sedus LOOKBOOK N° 02. You can receive the full issue of the magazine, by email, here.
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