The key objective for the development of the Visitor Center project were to give the user the maximum view of the landscape and to feel him part of the same nature.
Prospettiva da EST
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
The solution adopted in this context has been to raise the floor with a roof terrace at +4 (plus four) meters via a ramp that leads visitors into a privileged position for observation. The ramp and terrace are realized by green areas and wood flooring in order to let the visitor feel still on a natural ground and from here embrace view across the landscape. The terrace provides open sky spaces and partially covered spaces so it can use in any climatic condition.
Panoramica dalla terrazza
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
The visitor, who comes through the driveway, coming from a location that is considered fast, as soon as get down from the car is in contact with nature and breathes a feeling that provides a quiet serenity. Arrived in the square a ramp accompanies him to the roof terrace where is immersed in the quiet landscape of the Fen.
Ingresso principale arrivo dalla B660
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
The visitor who comes through the waterway, a slower path and already enjoying the natural beauty of the Fen, at his landing is in direct contact with the structure of the center that presents itself as the dominant item of the landscape and his desire is to enter into an ambience where all the wonders observed will also find a teaching approach.
Sbarco dal canale navigabile
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
The building is characterized by the use of eco-friendly materials and colors, textures and fragrances are those of natural wood and straw. We have also evaluated the bio-mimetic experience with the use of the coat of straw that amalgamates the main block with the landscape and through the burying by 80% of the construction, in fact the roof is a large terrace not only passive (platform overview), but also active, giving the opportunity to exhibit in the flower beds that surround and form the path, the flora of the Fen to educational use (Eco-Museum).
Prospettiva da Nord Est
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
The idea of being independent and sustainable has led us to make some fundamental choices for the use of alternative energy. For the production of energy has been assigned part of the large area used for parking, with a total area of 3000 square meters of which 600 square meters (expandable) covered by a roof fitted with photovoltaic panels. The energy production exceeds the absorption of the construction and all its components (New Decoy Bungalow), allowing even the “net metering” (sell their excess energy putting into the National Grid). This system could help to repay through operations of public incentives, the entire implantation investment cost, then going to fall back positively on consumption ordinary statements.
Vista da Nord Ovest, il parcheggio con la copertura in pannelli fotovoltaici
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
Architecturally, the complex consists of a two-storey straight block, place to closure the future waterway, which is perpendicular to the driveway which enter to the Centre, and the roof terrace that is inserted on the first volume with 45° cuts.
Schema distributivo
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
The two elements are welded to an always open path, both to the ground floor and to the upper floor, which connects the courtyard at the entrance to the interior park. On the right side of the access road has been placed the parking for 100 cars and 7 buses.
Planimetrie ed esplosi
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
The block looks like a parallelepipedal body covered with a gable roof tracing materials typical of English country houses. This element grows on the extension of the waterway and presents at both ends a wooden double volume pergola that functions as a filter zone between the inside and the outside; the volume in its central part is compact while at its ends is dematerialized baring its wooden structure, transporting the visitor from closed space in the open Fen landscape. At the center, the volume is cut and opened by a vetrage that illuminates the vertical connections, stair and lift, allowing a really wide and full vision of the Fen landscape.
Vista a volo d'uccello da Sud Est
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
The floor of the terrace penetrates the block and pass, it recurs again as panoramic viewpoint on the North-West.The block and the access ramp to the terrace are the wings that surround the entrance courtyard from which unrolls the road that arrives to the center. The main entrance is located on the west side of the court, marked by the confluence of these wings under a large cover that accompanies the visitor inside the structure. The parking is arranged on the opposite side of the entrance, filtered by a trees zone. On the ground floor of the principal block we find, from its north-east , the tea room / servery, the block of toilets / showers for visitors and the exhibition hall overlooking on the Water Taxi jetty, as well as an area of repository, with access from the outside and the inside. The tea room / servery is organized to accommodate up to 70 people with the ability to expand with 50 seats in outer space under the pergola. The space is presented fully opened with the possibility of being able to be divided in smaller spaces by moving partitions. On the opposite side to the external access of the tea-room / servery, are placed service rooms of this area, which consist of kitchen, storage and changing rooms with toilets and showers for staff. The servery’s services are provided of a direct access from outside and are in communication with the staffroom which also communicates with the exhibition hall. The restrooms for visitors have a direct access to the outside so that it can be used even when the visitor center is closed and consist of toilets and showers for men, women and the disabled as well as a baby feeding/changing facilities in the women area. The exhibition hall looks like a great free environment with large windows located on the north-west and south-west in order to allow a vision of the Fen from inside. In the exhibition hall is planned the “camera obscura” and a storeroom which is in communication with the exterior one. The storage area for replenishment of aid instruments to accessibility, such as all-terrain wheelchairs and personal mobility vehicles, has an area of about 30 square meters to accommodate at least three vehicles has a direct access to the outside and in communication with the interior, through the storage area adjacent to the “camera obscura”. The top floor of the block is made up of the exhibition hall, connected to the main floor and an open area. A staircase and a lift extend the exhibition hall from the ground floor to the upper floor where is also a large gallery that overlooks the lower level. Even at this level the exhibition hall has large openings to let in the landscape of Fen in the structure, and in the north-west side is placed a large open terrace for the exclusive use of the exhibition hall for the educational observation of the Fen landscapes. The remaining part of the main body has been designed as an extension of semi-covered terrace and offering space to host events. Parallel to the main building, on the ground floor, it develops a free path that connects the main square with the interior courtyard of the centre. Along the way we pass by the entrances of the reception, the toilet, the tea room / servery and the exhibition hall. Below the terrace on the ground floor, are located, in addition to the reception, Meeting room, multifunctional room, Retail area/ shop, local services outbuildings and warehouses. The reception has large windows so as to be readily perceived from the outside and its shape invites the visitor to go to the rooms of the ground floor of the main exhibition hall, the tea room / servery and toilet facilities, or to cross the access to the inner courtyard of the centre, from which depart the paths and the visit to the park. The meeting room has a direct access to the outside in one side of the square, below the terrace, and access from the inside through the multipurpose room. Sized to accommodate about 90 people, accompanied by spaces service as wardrobe / ticket office, toilets for men, women and disabled people and storage rooms. The multipurpose room has a direct access from the reception and comes with storage rooms, toilets for men, women and the disabled and a kitchen. The multipurpose room overlooking the panorama of the Fen through a large window open on the south-west. The Retail Area / Shop is located behind the reception to welcome the visitor when leaving the center. The rooftop terrace has large skylights that allow direct illumination of the local reception, conference room and multi-purpose room. The New Bungalow Decoy, located at the south end of the parking lot, is composed of a two-storey building above ground. The ground floor is oriented with the direction of the terrace’s ramp while the upper floor is oriented according to the block of the visitor center. On the ground floor there is a garage and two offices with waiting room and toilet. On the upper floor, accessed by an external staircase, we find the rooms for residence of the permanent team of the Great Fen, consisting of a day zone with living room and kitchen and a night zone with two bedrooms and a bathroom. The financial analysis of the project was carried out considering the unit prices which refer to the public buildings new construction, roads, parking areas and the arrangement of green areas.
Affaccio a Nord
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
Ingresso principale
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
Vista da Ovest
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.
Area espositiva al piano superiore con affaccio sul canale
© Marco Calenzo . Published on June 14, 2013.