offices and suspended gardens

Offices and Suspended Gardens is LCA Architetti's design for the new headquarters of Gruppo Vergero in Venaria Reale, near Turin, developed for a 2021 competition: an iconic office building that is also truly sustainable, built with natural materials and energy self-sufficient.

The long, narrow plot runs beside the ring road and the A64 motorway, with views of the Alps and Mont Blanc, the Venaria Reale park and the Juventus stadium. The building, about 4,840 m², has a trapezoidal profile that rises towards the south-west to frame the mountains and express the company's growth. Vertical timber fins act as sunshades on the façades; at the east end, an illuminated lantern bears the group's name and makes the building a landmark for passing drivers.

Inside, a full-height atrium over 15 m tall, lit by a skylight, connects all floors and teams. Offices are bright, naturally ventilated and easy to reorganise, and the management area has its own routes. In the basement, a relaxation area and gym open onto a sunken garden, while two green terraces on the roof become suspended gardens for staff.

The structure is prefabricated cross-laminated timber (CLT), with only the basement in concrete: shorter building times, better seismic performance and controlled costs. Rooftop solar panels, high-efficiency mechanical ventilation and rainwater reuse aim for a zero-emission building that communicates the company's commitment to sustainability.