Raw to cooked. Centre for food supply chain research

Because of her particular morphological features and of her natural resistance to external influences, the region of Umbria has often been delayed in the search for innovation. Those late starts, though, have allowed her to reach significant results in modern times anyway, especially during moments of crucial changes. In the same way, the city of Perugia was always forced to keep its ancient atmosphere. Even the Modern movement affected the region and the city differently from the rest of the country. Projects and expansion plans were designed for Perugia, but few of them actually happened. Among this the case of the public market, which was a required facility for the city during the 1930s. This new building was crucial for both its function and its position. It marked forever the panorama of the city, as it was placed on a terraced plot just behind the fifteenth-century courthouse. Modernity and local traditions live together in this building. It is a modern building as for its innovative load-bearing structure built in reinforced concrete. Its exterior design and material recall the local tradition and the behind context. Nowadays, the public market is facing difficult days as it is gradually loosing its importance and its activities. The project tries to reactivate it by reinterpreting the theme of food and giving it a new and global dimension, since it is becoming more and more a significant issue since we as human beings we depend on it. The program for the new Centre for Food Supply Chain Research was fitted among the dense load-bearing structure in order to enhance its character.. Going up from the bottom floor, the building gets more public. Ground and first floor are occupied by research laboratories, pilot plants for new farming techniques and offices. The second floor is considered the new main access to the centre through the central double-height courtyard. A three-floor high vertical greenhouse and a multipurpose space fill this floor, while the third level is more corporate with a library area, offices and a conference room. The rooftop terrace acquires a new identity with an addition housing all the technical plants needed. This makes a roof for a cafeteria making the last level the most public where people can still enjoy the wonderful panorama over the valley.