CR2 Sinapsi Rehabilitation Center
A Center for Community Well-Being, with the Excellence of Isopan Solutions
Ownership: Fondazione Occhi Azzurri Onlus
Location: Cremona, Italy
Design: STEEL & Co. Srl
Isopan Solution: ADDWind and GreenROOF Systems
Photography: Nebbia Phygital Lab
Nestled in the heart of Parco del Morbasco in Cremona, the CR2 Sinapsi Center was born as a symbol of the Ruvioli family's vision: to create a space designed for their son Orlando and for all children facing challenges related to complex conditions, such as neurodevelopmental disorders and rare genetic diseases. This Recreational and Rehabilitation Center—hence the acronym CR2—is the result of collaboration among experts from various fields, innovative companies, and prestigious academic institutions, contributing to the realization of a project where the principles of the New European Bauhaus—Beautiful, Sustainable, Together—are seamlessly integrated.
Filippo Ruvioli, president of Fondazione Occhi Azzurri, aimed to donate an innovative resource to the city of Cremona to support other families facing similar challenges. Leading the project alongside him is Prof. Marco Imperadori, a professor of technological innovation at the Politecnico di Milano.
Thanks to funding from Fondazione Cariplo, CR2 Sinapsi serves as an after-school and rehabilitation center accessible to the entire community, particularly to vulnerable groups associated with disabilities. The center’s design follows a user-centered approach, featuring therapy rooms, pools and gyms for rehabilitation, laboratories, a Snoezelen room, a refreshment area, and an auditorium.
Industrialized Technologies for an Innovative Building
The building, covering an area of 1,564 m², was constructed using industrialized steel-based technologies, employed for both the load-bearing structure and the building envelope. The dry-assembly method ensured rapid execution, with the entire project completed in approximately 18 months. Isopan, a partner in the project, contributed technologically advanced solutions for the building envelope, designed to ensure high standards of energy efficiency, indoor comfort, and environmental sustainability.
For the vertical closure, the ADDWind ventilated façade system was used, incorporating the Isofire Roof panel with a thickness of 100 mm and a ROCKWOOL mineral wool core. This solution offers numerous advantages, including high thermal and acoustic insulation performance, enhancing indoor comfort; weather resistance and reduced maintenance requirements; broad design freedom, thanks to premium finishes such as the Rockpanel Woods external cladding by partner ROCKWOOL.
For the roof, the GreenROOF system, developed by Isopan in collaboration with DAKU Italia, was implemented. The extensive green roof, built with the Isodeck PVSteel panel, helps improve air quality, mitigate the urban heat island effect during summer months, ensure a comfortable microclimate in both summer and winter, and seamlessly integrate the center into the natural surroundings of the park, extending the green surface and enhancing the surrounding environment.
Energy Efficiency and User Comfort
The construction solutions adopted allow for up to 10 hours of thermal lag and thermal transmittance values below 0.15 W/m²K, ensuring maximum energy efficiency. Additionally, several aspects have been optimized to enhance indoor environmental quality:
- Natural lighting, through the inclusion of roof windows and light wells
- Air quality, via a controlled natural and mechanical ventilation system
- Acoustic comfort, for a quiet and welcoming environment
A strong focus on sustainability is also reflected in the choice of materials with a high percentage of recycled content, such as mineral wool for insulation and steel for the structure. Furthermore, the integration of renewable energy sources into the building systems helps reduce energy consumption.
The CR2 Sinapsi Center stands as a virtuous example of inclusive and technologically advanced architecture. Thanks to the commitment of Fondazione Occhi Azzurri and the contribution of partners like Isopan, it has been possible to create a building that not only meets the therapeutic and recreational needs of its users but also harmoniously integrates with the surrounding environment, offering cutting-edge solutions in energy efficiency and comfort. A project that demonstrates how technology and design can come together to tangibly improve people's lives.
