ZOL Auditorium

Politecnico di Milano, Polytechnic University of Milan, School of Design

Project idea

The school of music, located in via Gallarate 15, Milan, required a new auditorium to be built for public and school performances. The designed auditorium focuses on sustainable solutions such as materiality and acoustical performances. Not only that, the surrounding environment was taken into account as to not invade the site, but merely assimilate itself to compliment the school.

Project description

An already existing hallway that connects the classrooms to the gymnasium was the initial starting point of this design. The main transparent facade, as seen in the renders, indicates the new entry point to the performance hall with an inviting space to all public passer bys. The backside of the auditorium indicates a more private entrance for all performers not affiliated with the school to conduct a performance on behalf of the municipality.

Technical information

Our structure is exposed as a means of transparency to convey an honest architectural language between design and structure. Glu-laminated timber posts and beams were used in a sequential grid to display a sort of order that will be changed with the elevations.

A hidden water collecting system was designed by using larch boards as a means to cover the exterior elevations, but also allow for easy access to the pipes in case of required maintenance.

Acoustical performances were solved with the usage of fibreglass core acoustical panels with a Diviewsor acrylic rear wall to assure sound quality and transparency, eliminating claustrophobic spaces, to remain true with the main facade's inviting nature.

A double insulated room beneath the seating area, along with an exterior access, was dedicated for the HVAC system to be implemented in both the main hall and auxiliary spaces. By using the neighbouring roof of the school, a chilling tower was implemented along with the main system.

Structural loads have been taken into consideration, which is why the repeated nature of the columns, with the help of cross bracing tension cables found at the corners of the project, aided the design to reach an equilibrium between paths and functions, surfaces and volumes.

Documentation

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