Modern rediscovered: an innovative restoration in Olivetti’s industrial city

Enrico Giacopelli of G Studio designed the restoration of Villa Rossi, an executive residence for Olivetti managers, completed in 1961 based on the design by Emilio A. Tarpinio within the Ufficio Consulenza Case Dipendenti. The house is part of the complex that constitutes the modern industrial city of Ivrea, Italy, a UNESCO site since 2018 and a tangible expression of a cultured and enlightened vision of Italian entrepreneurship that successfully integrated technological innovation, product design, and social awareness. The architectural works in this city were drawn by masters such as Luigi Figini, Gino Pollini, Roberto Gabetti, Aimaro Isola, Eduardo Vittoria, Ignazio Gardella, Marco Zanuso, and effectively embody the civic sense of the social pact between the bourgeoisie and the working class, which found fertile ground for experimentation in Ivrea.

The restoration of Villa Rossi consists of a series of operations on individual components aimed at improving thermo-hygrometric comfort without altering the original aesthetics. To achieve an energy class B rating, interventions were made on the enclosures by restoring the fixtures and fitting them with low-emissivity glass, correcting thermal bridges in walls and the roof, and enhancing insulation performance. New ductwork has allowed for improved air circulation in cavities, extending even to the basement rooms.

The image of the villa has been preserved through coordinated actions involving cleaning, restoration, and reinforcement of the facade elements. Serendipitously discovered stockpile in the cellar allowed for filling gaps and replacing deteriorated components of gres tiles and the pearly white glazed terracotta sunshades.
The same philosophy was adopted in the interior restoration, particularly concerning the fixed furnishings. The primary modification focused on replacing asbestos-containing ceramic and linoleum floors with acacia wood parquet. The internal layout was maintained with few minor changes, primarily involving the expansion of the kitchen and dining area, as well as the service bathroom.

The restored Villa Rossi embodies a new paradigm for intervening in 20th-century heritage, where the goal of preserving the iconic and material originality of the structure harmonizes with the necessity to adapt it to contemporary needs. This approach represents an effective way to provide continuity and a future for one of Italy's most significant architectural narratives.