San Marco Institute (now Guardia di Finanza Academy), (1960-1972), via Statuto 21, Bergamo
Structure: Eng. Aldo Favini (auditorium), Eng. Domenico Deleidi
MEP Engineering: Eng. Gianfelice Bertolini
Contractor: Invernizzi (Bergamo), Marcora (Milano)
Structure: Eng. Aldo Favini (auditorium), Eng. Domenico Deleidi
MEP Engineering: Eng. Gianfelice Bertolini
Contractor: Invernizzi (Bergamo), Marcora (Milano)
The San Marco Institute in Bergamo, designed and built by Gigi Gho' for the Milanese company “La Serenella” between 1960 and 1972, was conceived as a modern campus on the basis of the British model. The conspicuous area schedule included teaching rooms and laboratories, a student residence with a first aid room and a canteen, a sports centre with swimming pool and pitches, and a lecture theatre. The project followed a phased approach - typical of the rationalistic method to proceed in stages - with Gho' setting each function within independent blocks built along the site and provided with independent formal definition, and obtaining in the centre of gravity a wide open space known as “piazzale di incontri” (meeting square), a social hub.
The linear block intended for teaching sits in the South, along via Statuto (1960); the student residence is located in the East and is characterised by a broken profile with three sections that follow to the irregular shape of the site (1972). The other two volumes - the sport centre in the West (1965) and the lecture theatre (1964) - are defined formally by a wavy roof with a broken profile, an expressive element Gho' repeats in most of his projects. The Engineers Favini and Deleidi contributed the structural calculations. The materials are exposed reinforced concrete for the structure and brick and clinker of bright colours for the cladding.
On the 1st of December 1984 the San Marco Institute has become the Guardia di Finanza Academy; a two-hundred Lira coin representing the front facade on via Statuto was forged for the centenary of the institution.
The linear block intended for teaching sits in the South, along via Statuto (1960); the student residence is located in the East and is characterised by a broken profile with three sections that follow to the irregular shape of the site (1972). The other two volumes - the sport centre in the West (1965) and the lecture theatre (1964) - are defined formally by a wavy roof with a broken profile, an expressive element Gho' repeats in most of his projects. The Engineers Favini and Deleidi contributed the structural calculations. The materials are exposed reinforced concrete for the structure and brick and clinker of bright colours for the cladding.
On the 1st of December 1984 the San Marco Institute has become the Guardia di Finanza Academy; a two-hundred Lira coin representing the front facade on via Statuto was forged for the centenary of the institution.
Bibliography about this work
“L'industria delle costruzioni” n.71, 1977
Jolanda Ventura (a cura di), Gigi Gho': progetti e architetture 1950-1995, [s.e.], 1997, pp.90-105
“L'industria delle costruzioni” n.71, 1977
Jolanda Ventura (a cura di), Gigi Gho': progetti e architetture 1950-1995, [s.e.], 1997, pp.90-105
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