2009 - New Fair Complex of Sardinia, Cagliari (I)

Design competition
1st prize

Client
Fiera Internazionale della Sardegna

Project team

architectural project:
mijic architects, Rimini (I) in collaboration with Fabio Ferrini architect, Repubblica San Marino (RSM)

landscape project:
Land Milano srl, Milano (I)
Land Sardegna srl, Cagliari (I)

structural project:
BMS progetti srl, Milano (I)

planting:
TiFS Ingegneria, Padova (I)

transport,infrastructures planning:
Systematica, Cagliari (I)

The work wants to build the new fair district based on the needs of a structure and city in evolution paying attention to the problems connected with the environment and the energy restraint. The project realizes an intervention able to create a strong welding between the project area and the urban context defining new spatial and visual relationships, reducing  the routes,  offering a new important connection with the area in front of the sea and also valorizing the capacities of this strategic area.

The work answers to the premises and the problems presented by the site through different strategies:

- Raising the exhibition floor (+ 6, 00 mt) in relation to the dimension of the area, realizes a plate able to extend the routes and join the urban side with the sea front; overstepping the elements of interruption constituted by the existing viability establishes therefore a strong spatial continuity. This different altitude allows the allocation of a covered parking (level 0.00m, 1400 parking spaces in total) connected with the external vehicle entrances for exhibitors and visitors, opened in correspondence of the central area around the Libera pavilion, where one of the fair entrances  is located. At the exhibition floor (level + 6,00m) are placed the new pavilions ( gross surface 39.000 square metres) and the connected structures, the covered square with bar, restaurant service and the new Congress Centre. The last one, with its independent external access, is conceived with the aim to increase the congress activity of the International Fair of Sardinia and to realize a new important place able to welcome important events thanks to the new auditorium (900 places) , conference rooms, restaurants and connected services.

- The  improvement of the prestigious existing buildings such as the pavilion F ( exhibition area) and the Libera pavilion P (parking access) contains a logical, formal and functional integration. A unit of offices with independent access from Diaz road, in the city side, completes the fair building and creates a flexible solution for connected working spaces to the fair and to the outside.
- Permeability and continuity with the existing building are pursued through the use of a system of widespread internal routes that integrate themselves with the covered square, the bridge connecting the waterfront and the access ramp towards the city, able to ensure a strong connection level towards the sea-the inland, and a great availability  of the project. The new waterfront welcomes a system of “public places”, a new harbour, an open air for music and performances, the spaces, object of improvement, of the Salt Warehouse by Pier Luigi Nervi, important structures able to welcome some of the most important cultural and sport events of the city.