The new teaching space at the Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome, a true lesson in sustainable design

Luiss Guido Carli University recently completed the construction of a remarkable new building. The sustainably sourced Kebony wood cladding forms a striking, nature-inspired and eco-friendly facade.

In the heart of the Paroli district, the project has just been completed following a fruitful collaboration between the architectural firms Alvisi Kirimoto and Studio Gemma. It complements the existing spaces of the university and offers a new teaching space, designed in harmony with its natural environment.

Developed on two levels and on a total area of ​​1.500 m2, the project was built from scratch, following the demolition of an old warehouse. The new space is located in a picturesque and accessible location, south of the university campus, close to a small wood, a park and the main university square. The architecture of the building is inspired by the surrounding nature: custom-built in a style reminiscent of a cabin, the structure blends into the landscape and creates a warm and welcoming space for students.

Kebony wood cladding was chosen to complete the exterior facade. It brings a rustic and natural character to the cladding of the second floor, and allows the structure to fit perfectly among the surrounding treetops. Developed in Norway and supplied locally by Italian partner ICOL, the patented Kebony double modification process permanently transforms sustainably sourced softwood species, such as pine, into Kebony wood. The latter offers durability qualities equivalent to, and in some cases superior to, tropical hardwoods, while retaining their natural beauty.

Kebony offers space designers an eco-friendly solution for the construction of new healthy architecture projects, all over the world. The brand fights the twin problems of deforestation and increased carbon emissions caused by reliance on traditional building materials. Kebony is also resistant to the vagaries of the weather and requires little or no maintenance. The learning structure thus created is durable, aesthetic, and will be enjoyed by many future generations of students.

Inside the building, the spaces have been carefully designed to guarantee versatility and accommodate multiple different educational activities. These include cultural and artistic events, as well as social events such as gala evenings or film screenings. The first floor houses the entrance, a classroom and service areas, while the upper floor houses a multipurpose amphitheater and two additional classrooms. The facility has been designed to allow both face-to-face and distance learning: it is equipped with sophisticated audiovisual conferencing systems integrated into the architecture.

The project, which resembles a large telescope watching over the square below, will become the new focal point of campus life. The building's sustainable design principles and use of natural materials have earned it the prestigious LEED Platinum certification.

For Massimo Alvisi, architect and co-founder of Alvisi Kirimoto: “The building is a raised wooden box, which dialogues with nature. Diaphanous and silent, it lets in the light, attenuated by the trees and the slats. At night, cleverly lit, it seems suspended in the dark like a lantern housing a candle. Surrounded by nature, with its permeable and transparent envelope characterized by the use of durable Kebony wood cladding, the building seems to dissolve into the landscape. It evokes the classic tree house, from which it borrows not only the silhouette, but also the welcoming and almost “family” dimension of the spaces, which are tailor-made for students. »

For Nina Landbø, International Sales Director at Kebony: “For more than 25 years, Kebony's mission has been to educate everyone about the benefits of sustainable building materials, and to help the world reduce its CO2 emissions. The brand achieves this by producing an environmentally friendly, durable and aesthetically pleasing product designed for use in construction on a global scale. We are therefore pleased that Kebony has been chosen as the liner for this new teaching space, and we hope that this nature-inspired learning environment will spark other ideas for solving the climate crisis. »