Hammered exposed concrete
Brixen Music School by Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli
© Marco Cappelletti
Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli of Treviso has tinted the exposed concrete of the music school on Brixen’s periphery a rusty-red in reference to the street paving in the town in South Tyrol’s Eisack Valley. Plus inspired by historical fortifications, the architectural practice has grouped the ensemble’s individual volumes within a monolithic, windowless enclosure that surrounds a long courtyard, thus optically breaking up the volume and reconciling the extreme differences in elevation at the site.
© Marco Cappelletti
The music school is located in the three-storey western wing. The uppermost floor is set back by about 2 m on three sides; the facades to the north and south continue in an easterly direction in the form of a space-enclosing wall. From the eastern wing, which accommodates the Alpenverein association and the municipal brass band’s rehearsal room, solely the western facade is to be seen, while the rest of the building is overlooked by the 3.75-metre-higher forecourt of a climbing gym.
Of central significance as a gateway to the city’s old quarter, the courtyard features portals at its two far ends, opening it to the street and guiding visitors from the car park in the north to downtown Brixen. The facades have a roughened look achieved with a manual hammered technique, while solely the window and door surrounds on the facades oriented to the street have a silky sheen finish. For embellishment of the courtyard walls, the architects adapted a Baroque wallpaper pattern from the region.
© Marco Cappelletti
Like a room open to the sky, the courtyard leads from the publicly accessible outdoor spaces to the private interior of the music school. Pale green easy chairs, dark oak fixtures and plasterboard walls and ceilings painted a light hue create a homely atmosphere in the light-flooded foyer. The rooms for group and individual lessons are situated on the two upper floors.
© Marco Cappelletti
© Marco Cappelletti
© Marco Cappelletti
Just past the offices on the ground floor, eight steps lead down half a floor to where a small performance hall, a room with a church organ and the concert hall with 154 tiered seats are located. The black ceiling and dark wooden wall paneling in the latter contrast the light grey of the rows of upholstered seats, creating a contemplative mood despite the lack of natural light and focusing attention on the stage. A round of applause is truly deserved.
Read more in Detail 4.2022 and in our databank Detail Inspiration.
Architecture: Carlana Mezzalira Pentimalli
Client: Comune di Bressanone (BZ)
Location: Piazza Priel 7A, Bressanone (IT)
Structural engineering: Bergmeister
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