Location: Castrezzato, Brescia, Italy

Completion Date: 2021

Client: Porsche Italia SPA

Architect: GBPA Architects | Arch. Antonio Gioli - Arch. Federica De Leva

Roofing and Façades: Tecnomont Service

Envelope Solutions: Isofrozen Isopan

To build the roof at the Porsche Experience Franciacorta Customer Center, we retained the load-bearing structure, consisting of large segmental arches in laminated wood, and the skylights at the top that allow natural light to filter into the interior. The arches have an overall span of 55 meters, standing 16 meters tall at the ridge point, arranged in 9-meter pitches. Removal of the first three arches, corresponding to 27 meters, made it possible to carve out a filter zone, a sort of covered portico between the Customer Center’s interior and the outside.

In total, we supplied 2300 sq. m of Leaf technology to re-roof the existing structure, giving the visitor center a leading-edge, high- impact aesthetic characterized by alternating opaque panels, glass surfaces and striated portions with brise-soleils.

We supplied Tecnomont with Isopan’s Isofrozen panel as the most suitable solution for the project’s needs. Isofrozen is a double metal- clad sandwich panel over polyurethane insulating foam, using Leaf technology to improve the insulating material’s thermal performance by lowering the polyurethane foam’s thermal conductivity value. This system enabled us to obtain thermal transmittance values that are 20% lower than standard panels of the same thickness, complying with performance requirements and geometric constraints impossible to achieve without this technology. Moreover, Leaf enabled us to ensure high levels of fire performance without using halogenated flame retardants, which are potentially harmful to the environment. Of the wide range of Isofrozen panels available, 120 mm thick Isofrozen panels with a RAL 9010 color internal finish – an optical white that recalls the Porsche brand’s style and purity – were selected for the PEC Customer Center.

photo credits: Beppe Raso