”Today we are laying the first symbolic stone of the Factory, which will become the flagship of our Group,” said Stefano Agostini, President and CEO of the Sanpellegrino Group. “Out of all the projects presented, BIG’s proposal was the most representative of our brand values and our company’s commitment: to restore our role as Made in Italy ambassadors; tell an extraordinary and non-outsourceable story of mineral water; generate real value and benefits for the community in which we operate; enhance the quality of work for our personnel – and therefore, increase production – reinforcing the sense of belonging and passion for working in a progressive, comfortable and gratifying environment.”
 
BIG’s proposal for S.Pellegrino’s new home in the heart of Bergamo is an authentic extension of the rational and functional architecture of the existing factory from 1899, and a homage to the classic elements of Italian architecture and urbanism. The arcade, the viale, the piazza and the portico create an architectural environment where production and consumption, nature and architecture, outside and inside, and making and enjoying are accommodated in an integrated way to elevate the experience for visitors as well as S.Pellegrino staff.

 “It is with great excitement that we embark on this collaboration with S.Pellegrino. Rather than imposing a new identity on the existing complex, we propose to grow it out of the complex. Like the mineral water itself – the new S.Pellegrino Factory and Experience Lab will seem to spring from its natural source. We propose to wash away the traditional segregation between front and back of house, and to create a seamless continuity between the environment of production and consumption, and preparation and enjoyment.“ Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner, BIG.

BIG’s design is evolved around a well-known architectural element: the archway. The simple and clear character of the expanding and contracting arches throughout the campus, create a multitude of spaces and experiences. Visitors and S.Pellegrino employees will walk through majestic vaults, covered tunnels, arcades and green pergolas that frame the history and heritage of the brand. The architecture’s seriality will reveal parts of the surrounding mountains, from the snowcapped summit to the flowing Brembo river.

At the center of the campus, a giant core sample will visualize the 30-year journey that the mineral water must travel through to acquire the minerals and achieve the purity that is unique to S.Pellegrino. The new S.Pellegrino Flagship Factory  will appear disciplined yet fluid; cavernous yet transparent; unifying yet diverse; classic yet contemporary. Celebrating both tradition and evolution the architecture of the new campus reflects the core values of San Pellegrino Terme as well as the Sanpellegrino Group: Purity, Transparency and Naturality.
 
 “This project is demonstrative of Sanpellegrino Group’s close attention to and strong bond with our territory,” commented Vittorio Milesi, Mayor of San Pellegrino Terme. “The new factory falls under the category of tourism development for our community and we are confident that it will stimulate other initiatives that were started in recent years, but may have been put on hold in the aftermath of the economic crisis.”

BIG, S.Pellegrino and local architects Studio Verticale will collaborate for the next four years, with groundbreaking of the construction to take place in 2018. First priority will be given to the construction of the bridge that will connect the bottling plant to Zogno, which will then connect to the parking structure for heavy vehicles. From 2019-on, focus will be given to the offices, the northern wing of the Factory and the Experience Lab.

BIG
BIG is a Copenhagen, New York and London based group of architects, designers, builders, and thinkers operating within the fields of architecture, urbanism, interior design, landscape design, product design, research and development. The office is currently involved in a large number of projects throughout Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. BIG’s architecture emerges out of a careful analysis of how contemporary life constantly evolves and changes. BIG believes that in order to deal with today’s challenges, architecture can profitably move into a field that has been largely unexplored. A pragmatic utopian architecture that steers clear of the petrifying pragmatism of boring boxes and the naïve utopian ideas of digital formalism. Like a form of programmatic alchemy we create architecture by mixing conventional ingredients such as living, leisure, working, parking and shopping. By hitting the fertile overlap between pragmatic and utopia, architects once again find the freedom to change the surface of our planet, to better fit contemporary life forms.

S.Pellegrino
S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna and Sanpellegrino Sparkling Fruit Beverages are international trademarks of Sanpellegrino S.p.A. Distributed in over 140 countries through branches and distributors in all five continents, these products represent quality excellence by virtue of their origins and perfectly interpret Italian style worldwide as a synthesis of pleasure, health and well-being. Founded in 1899, Sanpellegrino S.p.A, part of the Nestlé Waters group, is the leading company in the beverage sector in Italy with its range of mineral waters, non-alcoholic aperitifs, drinks and iced teas. As a major Italian producer of mineral water, it has always been committed to enhancing this primary good for the planet and works responsibly and passionately to ensure that this resource has a secure future.

Luca Molinari Architecture Curatorship & Consulting
With an extensive experience that spans over 30 years including university education and assignments in fields such as architectural research, curatorship, publishing and consulting, Luca Molinari today is supported by a team of skilled professionals with experience in architecture, graphic design, journalism and project management. Luca Molinari Firm’s core mission is to conceive and develop tailored-made projects that can turn visions and needs into tangible projects through an active dialogue with both institutional and private clients.
 
http://www.big.dk