The project was designed for a new industrial hub to be established in the area of Via Brescia by adding new production units to the existing structure, with the consequent redesign of the general services and internal distribution network.

Despite the diversity of the end product (tyres for heavy goods vehicles in the existing facility and tyres for high-performance cars in the new factory), the new hub identifies the shared services for employees, the centralised production of energy and some parts of the production process as activities that are common to both production lines, thereby increasing the overall benefits of these operational synergies.

The general layout of the flows can be traced back to a closed loop originating in the north eastern lot, where the raw materials are stored, along with the high volumes of the mixing rooms where the rubber is blended, treated and made suitable for the subsequent processing steps; this point feeds into the two different parallel production routes which, at the end, meet again in the final warehouse located on the western side of the new hangar and where the finished product of both production lines converges.

The nature of the “spine” is one of the characteristic themes of the design: placing all the common activities and services for workers in a central position between the two factories that creates an attractive and original solution from an ethical perspective as well as an architectural one.

Even the decision - undoubtedly an unusual one for an industrial facility - to locate the car parks for all staff in the same central space and thus in line with the two factories, supports and reinforces the core idea of making life easier and improving the conditions for people accessing their workplace.

The central axis, which is about 64 metres wide, is a large avenue lined with plenty of trees, organised into two one-way lanes which run parallel to one another and which have parking spaces orthogonal to each lane; at the ends, two bumped sections in the road connected by gentle slopes allow for people to get over them whilst safeguarding the unitary character of the central space between the two factories.

The building in elevation, meanwhile, was designed as a linear and modular structure out of metal carpentry, which is suspended over the ground floor like a series of departments joined together by a connecting path which runs lengthways; several covered bridge walkways connect the service areas on that level with the inside of the two factories.

The central position was reserved for the company dining room; a bar has been placed on the east side with the possibility of being extended to the outdoor terrace.

In the opposite direction, there are leisure- and service-related functions: the library, the internet area, and the union hall directly adjacent to the main entrance reception.

Continuing westwards, we find the blocks that house the operational and executive offices of the entire complex.

Furthermore, the end points of the spine fulfil “special” functions: a multipurpose space dubbed the “Pirelli room”, which has different distribution configurations, suitable for meetings and external communications. This is counterbalanced at the other end by a five-a-side football pitch located of European regulation-size at the edge of the east hangar.

On the ground floor, below the elevated volumes, there are additional spaces for kitchens, laboratories and medical facilities, waiting area and medical rooms.

Covering the top of the roof is a second external protection skin to control solar radiation, increase the thermal insulation performance of the roof beneath and house active energy systems. The entire surface area - around one hectare or 10,000 m2 - has been replaced by monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic panels with peak production capacity of over one MWatt of power.