Ark: technology headquarters

The redevelopment project of the former Torre del Moro brickworks (Ex Fornace) sits at the strategic heart of local urban regeneration. The intervention transforms an abandoned and fragmented site into a cutting-edge technological hub, eliminating urban decay with zero land consumption. Through a virtuous process of building replacement, the architecture mends the urban fabric and opens up to the community, integrating equipped green spaces, active mobility routes, and pedestrian-cycle connections. The change of use represents a clear statement of intent: an old material production site becomes an innovation and knowledge hub, capable of going beyond basic urban planning standards to offer tangible collective benefits and foster an active dialogue with the nearby “Pontescollo” Ecological Restoration Area.

The intervention thus serves as an ideal bridge between Romagna’s industrial tradition and the technological future of Industry 4.0. The old brickworks, originally dedicated to brick production and left abandoned for years, is reborn today as the architectural face and operational identity of a software company deeply rooted in the Cesena area. The project deliberately avoids altering the site’s historical memory, choosing instead to preserve its original silhouette and height, thereby keeping a well-established landmark in the local landscape intact.

The design strategy encompasses a careful evaluation of the relationships between the building’s volume, the neighboring residences, and the expansive green space to the rear. By relocating the main entrance to the provincial road, the campus opens up to the city in a functional and recognizable manner. Internally, the spatial organization reflects a contemporary vision of the workplace: a single nerve center that unites previously fragmented departments, promoting individual well-being at work, a sense of community, and creative cross-pollination among people.

The ground floor is conceived as a fluid and permeable environment, dedicated to public functions and amenities, while the first floor houses the beating heart of the company: a vast open-plan space with ergonomic workstations. The structure’s linearity is punctuated and softened by the insertion of green courtyards, which introduce natural light and revitalizing views of the landscape, particularly towards the east side, overlooking a picturesque natural area. Flexibility is further guaranteed by a modular design that allows the complex to be divided into five independent units, each equipped with its own facilities and vertical circulation systems, making the structure ready to evolve over time. The large curved roof has been fully optimized to accommodate an extensive photovoltaic system dedicated to clean energy production. Thanks to rigorous bioclimatic studies and daylighting simulations, the architecture maximizes winter solar heat gain and protects itself from summer heat through strategic canopies and pergolas.