The urban regeneration process undertaken by the Mulini Mandelli real estate brand for the historic mills area of Treviso, which will be completed in 2026, is a special case in the field of industrial architecture renovation.
The very notion of industrial archaeology, has been confirmed for decades now by the cultural debate as a heritage to be protected for its testimonial value and its potential for urban development in alternative to new land consumption.
Still, it involves a complex challenge: not only because of the significant financial commitment often required to revive the gigantic “unburied architectural corpses” (to quote Ernesto Nathan Rogers) that punctuate urban and rural landscapes, but also often because of the “idiosyncrasy” of those undertaking the transformative process to go beyond the implacable speculative logics of profit and sometimes self-referential authorship, to the detriment of a true benefit for the territory and its community.
This large-scale operation in Treviso, by instilling new lifeblood in a dismissed historic complex and in the area of approximately 70,000 square metres in which it is located, aims instead to give back to the city a venue that had been hanging in the limbo of decay for years, reintroducing it into the building cycle as a trigger not only for marketing and urban development but also for social cohesion and local identity.
Situated at the confluence of the Sile and Storga rivers, in a strikingly scenic setting on the outskirts of the city, the seventeenth-century complex that for centuries supplied Venice with flour (transported from Treviso first by river and then by land) was decommissioned in 1932, remaining abandoned for years. The recent acquisition by entrepreneurs bringing attention to local territorial challenges has launched the masterplan for the mixed-use redevelopment of the site, signed by Studio Matteo Thun & Partners with the support of Treviso-based firm mzc+ and local technicians, and with the partnership of Italy Sotheby's International Realty for the sales.
A process that will shape the vision of Pierangelo Bressan, the inspired entrepreneur who strongly wanted, conceived and supported the operation: “The development vision was to foresee, beyond the decades of neglect, the enormous potential of this site (...) Having Italy Sotheby's International Realty as a partner in this project is a guarantee of excellence and professionalism. Their experience and solid reputation in the prestigious real estate sector are testimony to the quality and value that we want to offer with the Mandelli Mills redevelopment plan, a 60-million-euro investment that marks an important step for the future of the area".
Covering an area of approximately 70,000 square metres, the project envisages the conservation of the historic buildings overlooking the Sile, two public parks, residential and commercial spaces, services and offices (including the Fluvial Park headquarters). In line with the approach that has characterised Studio Thun's work for decades, the project is conceived with the utmost respect for anthropic and natural features and environmental sustainability.
The monumental seventeenth-century mill will house 17 flats of various sizes, 21 units intended for tourist rentals, and 7 units for offices, while the 7 twentieth-century houses on the river will be reconfigured to house dwellings with gardens.
The project aimed to a scrupulous restoration of the historic buildings, altering as little as possible the spaces that are revealed in their original configuration and textural essence. Masonry and wooden structures have been carefully preserved and repaired in the damaged parts, and the salvaged wooden elements recycled on the same site.
In the interiors, natural, transpiring materials with soft, earthy colours will give the rooms a warm, enveloping character enriched by the irregularities and imperfections of the historical stratification. Common spaces for meeting and socialising, such as a small restaurant and retail shops, will foster community life in the new neighbourhood.
Two parks (an approximate 20,000 square metre area of public and private green spaces), planted with 600 new native trees capable of absorbing more than 160 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, and punctuated by a network of pedestrian and bicycle paths closed to cars, will create an ecosystem capable of dialoguing with the superb landscape of the Sile park.
In the heart of the area, 48 new residences (36 flats between 90 and 250 square metres and 12 semi-detached villas of more than 300 square metres on two levels) will offer different living solutions surrounded by greenery with common spaces for socialising, and areas dedicated to outdoor activities.
The communication between exteriors and interiors, the use of wood as the prevailing building material and abundant vegetation will gracefully insert the works into the context. The careful study of orientation and the efficient technology to save energy and reduce climate-altering emissions will minimise the intervention's ecological footprint.
As Matteo Thun explains: “We aim for sustainable, innovative and environmentally friendly architecture. In fact, our aim is always to preserve the existing and respect the genius loci through conscious architecture. In particular, for this project the use of solar energy and natural energy sources, the management of rainwater, and the reduction of new built volume in favour of greater soil permeability will be the guidelines of our work to bring new housing opportunities and public services to the community of Treviso”.