© Armin Hess, ISOCHROM

© Coop Himmelb(l)au . Pubblicata il 02 Settembre 2008.

1. Overall Concept

© Armin Hess, ISOCHROM

© Coop Himmelb(l)au . Pubblicata il 02 Settembre 2008.

Our project proposes to create a highly recognizable and unique architectonic icon for both the city of Riva and the ‘Garda Trentino Fiere’.

© Armin Hess, ISOCHROM

© Coop Himmelb(l)au . Pubblicata il 02 Settembre 2008.

An urban figure is proposed which fuses the existing buildings, the new fair pavilions, the poly-functional hall and the city itself into a legible, singular and memorable form. The main element of the design proposal is conceived as a continuous sculptural roof, which loosely frames permeable plazas, a main public boulevard and the fair pavilions in one continuous space. The roof acts as a virtual sky enabling the collection of the multiple parts of the “Fiere” into a coherent ensemble with a consistent image and multiple functionality, providing a clear signal to visitors and users of the extent of the fair premises and an unmistakeable way-finding system.

© Coop Himmelb(l)au . Pubblicata il 02 Settembre 2008.

1.1 Translucent Roof / Boulevard

The translucent roof creates a highly flexible urban condition.

Largely independent from weather conditions, the spaces and subspaces below the canopy can be used as roofed exhibition space, for public events such as outdoor cinema or music, or can simply blend with the surrounding city, becoming a publicly accessible part of the urban landscape. Currently lacking both of these aspects – a strong iconographic image as well as outdoor exhibition spaces – the translucent canopy will significantly improve the position of the ‘Garda Trentino Fiere’ in comparison to competing fairs in Verona, Bologna, Düsseldorf or Cologne.

Carefully taking into account its natural surrounding, the canopy becomes a virtual part of the local landscape rather than a simple backdrop or even boundary. The roof shape gives way for vistas throughout the entire site and its iconic figure draws heavily on the spatial simultaneity between the ‘perfect flat’ of the sky and horizon, and the steep mountainsides, making it an active participant in the tension field of natural and man-made elements.

1.2 The Boulevard

The proposal reorganizes the on-site traffic and consolidates all public access into one single boulevard – an immediately perceivable logic: All arriving visitors will access the fair (or poly-functional hall) through either of the two cone-shaped entrances. Between these two entrances the boulevard connects all publicly accessible outdoor and indoor spaces of the ‘Garda Trentino Fiere’: The fair building and Poly-functional hall to the north, the public plaza on two levels in front of it, the fair buildings A, B/C, D and G across the street as well as the flexible outdoor spaces below the roof.

1.2.1 Bridge – The elevated Boulevard

Where the boulevard bridges ‘Via Circonvallazione’ the roof serves both as structural support for the bridge as well as powerful visual link between the existing fair area and the new fair hall and poly-functional hall to the north. Largely weather protected the bridge directly connects the A pavilion to the MM area. This visual coherence is essential for the MM area to become a true catalyst for the remaining fair area as its iconic figure draws visitors across the street towards the roofed outside areas, linking both element in a legible way.

1.3 MM Area – A new link between city and fair

Programmatically we imagine the poly-functional hall in Area ‘MM’ to be not only part of the fair, but also public urban space, turning it into the area’s main catalyst. It forms one of the competition area’s most important links between the city of Riva and the ‘Garda Trentino Fiere’.

The three functions in area MM, the fair pavilion and the poly-functional hall surrounded by parking, are fused into one transformable hybrid building, with shared programs such as ticketing, access, service zones and commissions serving both functions at the same time. The poly-functional hall is conceived to take on any role from pure fair use to music or sport event – or any blend in between, as its flexibility allows for a simultaneity of events.

The entrance to the hybrid building is formally emphasized in the form of a cone shaped courtyard framing the plaza in front of the fair hall. At this point of the MM area a clear separation of the different user groups takes place. While the users of the fair hall directly enter the building on ground level the users of the Poly-functional hall have to take a spiral stair to the upper plaza (second courtyard) in front of the main entrance of Poly-functional hall. Night time the Poly-functional hall surrounded by the structure of the parking turns into a strongly visible glowing crystal.

Getting there by private car someone enters the MM area from Via Marone. The parking structure spirals around the fair building and the Poly-functional hall. Two elevators situated in the coned shape courtyard bring you to the main entrance level. The second courtyard in front of the MH is directly linked by stairs and bridges to the parking. This strong visual connection between the parking and the halls makes it easy to orientate inside the building.

Looking to the outside someone recognizes the existing fair area across the street not only by the connecting roof figure by the cone shape D pavilion.

1.4 D Area – New reception pavilion

The reception pavilion’s unique shape marks the main entrance to the fair, and to the ticketing and information area functions. Its sculptural figure makes it stand out of the composition framed by the roof, as it penetrates the canopy to form the tallest building of the fair ensemble. During the day it is clearly visible within the fair area’s vicinity, while at night it can be experienced as lit sculpture, emphasizing the catalytic character of the new area to transform atmosphere, image and function.

Its role as an easily read entrance area is also reflected in the program: Information booths, ticketing counters, visitors’ and exhibitors’ offices, flexible halls, restaurants are all located centrally in this building. The building perforates the cloud roof and the visitor of the restaurant on the top level has a fantastic view above the roof to the lake. The restaurants roof terrace and a sky walk leading to an observation deck become the public attraction.

1.5 H Area – Roofed Plaza

The roofed plaza in front of Fair Buildings B/C and G Area creates a vivid urban outdoor space. All adjacent fair buildings (the new pavilion in area G, the existing Building B/C and the new entrance pavilion) can be opened up towards this space, creating one continuous surface that immediately connects the fair’s inside spaces with the urban plaza outside.

The roofed plaza intentionally blurs the line between conventional ‘outside space’ and conditioned exhibition space inside of the pavilions, opening it up to a whole new array of possible uses.

1.6 G Area – New Fair Pavilion

Within the urban context the new fair pavilion in area G serves as a border towards the service area of the fair, helping to channel all public traffic along the main “Boulevard”. The Pavilion with its double height fair space can be opened up towards the outdoor exhibition space as well as building B, allowing for multiple modes of access and permeability towards the public areas.

2. Phasing

2.1 first construction phase

The first phase encompasses the construction of the Poly-functional hall, fair pavilion and parking in MM area as well as the bridge connection across ‘Nuova circonvallazione’. The bridge does not only link the entrance Plaza in the MM area with the Promenade but also is an enclosed connecting in-between the fair hall A and fair hall of MM area. By beginning with the Poly-Functional Hall – the urban catalyst of the area – the proposal establishes a vivid connection between ‘Garda Trentino Fiere’ and the city of Riva, and immediately initiates the desired synergetic effects. Furthermore, the construction of the fair’s largest parking will help to alleviate parking problems during exhibitions and trade shows. Throughout the entire first construction phase, all access to the operational fair buildings will remain unchanged, i.e. the main entrance will remain in building ‘B’, with access from Baltera Street and the new roundabout.

2.2 second construction phase

The second construction phase includes the reception pavilion D (entrance building) and parts of the extension of the cloud roof situated between building D and pavilions A and B. This phase also includes the finishing of the roof terrace that can be accessed from the restaurant on the fifths floor of the D building. Throughout construction, the fair will be accessible via east Baltera Street as well as the newly erected bridge – thereby linking the fair to the parking in area MM. The main entrance to the fair remains unchanged.

2.3 third construction phase

The third construction phase concludes the fair extension. In Area G the exhibition hall with an underground parking garage below it will be built. During this phase finally the urban plaza, used as outdoor exhibition area in front of pavilion G gets covered by the cloud roof.

2.3 optional phase

Optionally we propose to re-use the existing parking area atop Building B and C as additional outdoor exhibition space partly covert by the cloud roof. Furthermore we suggest redesigning the façade of the existing pavilions along the boulevard by adding perforated metal screens and restoring pavilion B. During all suggested construction phases the fair remains fully operational.