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The identification of the planned area of intervention derives from the particular characteristics of the locality and the need to ensure maximum accessibility to the site, both for use as temporary accommodation for journalists accredited to the XX Olympic Winter Games in 2006 and for its final use as accommodation for students attending the planned Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacology as well as the existing Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, now located in the territory of Grugliasco.
In particular, the area where the Villa Claretta Media Village will be built is situated in the town centre, borders with residential areas and can easily be reached from Torino and the Susa Valley. In addition, the area is crossed by a secondary network of bicycle and pedestrian lanes, which will provide direct connection to the future railway station, the planned university buildings in the town’s urban parks, the Villa Claretta complex and the town centre.
This route will make it possible to reach the university complex of the area in the villa in about ten minutes on foot.
The reason the university residence will be located here derives from the favourable opportunity to ensure the preservation and use by the inhabitants of a complex of notable cultural, historical, artistic and environmental relevance (now degraded due to the lack of permanent use as a residential area) by identifying uses that are compatible with the characteristics of the area.
This decision will offer future users a high profile and culturally relevant architectural setting and environment.
The criteria that were followed for the plan of the Media Village derive, above all, from a careful analysis of the historical stratifications of the environment.
In fact, the goal is to find a solution for its relationship with the surrounding urban structure and especially to preserve and valorise existing historical buildings.
Just as important are the criteria used to determine responsiveness to the principles of environmentally sustainable planning that unified and guided the choice of the plan. It is for this reason that the plan recognised the role of the park of Villa Claretta as an important part of the urban environment in the town centre of Grugliasco.
As a result, the plan was conceived as a sort of natural fan-shaped amphitheatre set around a splendid park – bringing to mind traditional Italian theatres set among greenery – to be achieved by building a steep green bank that, at a distance of about 16m from the continuous façade of the building, ensures that those using the Villa Claretta Park will have a good view of the new complex.
The Media Village covers a total area of about 17,500 sqm. and involves the construction of around 11,000 sqm. of three-storey buildings. On the ground floor, in addition to the public areas, are commercial lots that overlook the square and a total of 34 single rooms, 7 single rooms for the disabled and 20 double rooms providing accommodation for a total of 71 people. On the first floor, there are 86 single rooms, 7 single rooms for the disabled and 43 double rooms providing accommodation for a total of 179 people.
Finally, on the second floor, there are 90 single rooms, 7 single rooms for the disabled and 43 double rooms providing accommodation for a total of 183 people.
The facility will have a total accommodation capacity for 433 people.
The distinct comb-like configuration of the new building is another particularly important part of the plan.
The construction of a series of square and trapezoidal courtyards, in addition to ensuring access from the rooms built on the side of the building opposite the park; also include entry roads to the building.
Hidden from the eyes of the visitor to the park, but facing the town and surrounding urban landscape, the courtyards that are surrounded on three sides by the new building and on one by the existing wall, are laid out as a succession of self-sufficient closed courtyards or mini-landscapes.
The choice of the type of courtyard corresponds to the desire to include the characteristic layout of a garden inside the new building as well, and also to favour – a really important factor in the case of a university residence – a sense of belonging and appropriation of the area by users.