Olympic Village in Cortina d'Ampezzo

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269865

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Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS RISING STARS : concepts or ideas submitted by young talents (aged 30 or less)

Project title

Olympic Village in Cortina d'Ampezzo

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Description

The project of Olympic Village in Cortina d'Ampezzo, focuses on the topics of modular architecture, suggesting a concept of a - HOME AS A PRODUCT. This type of home is produced in the factory on the assembly-line, likewise any good of a mass production, it is eager to be transported to any location and serve its function, as a housing during a Mega-event like Olympic games as well as a holiday house for private individuals, or as an emergency housing for those in need. 

Where is your concept/idea being developed or intended to be implemented in the EU?

Please provide a summary of your concept/ idea

In 2026 Italy for the 2nd time will host winter Olympic Games in Milan and ski resorts of Cortina d’Ampezzo and Livigno.  Project aims on design of Olympic Village intended for Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the nearby town of Fiames on the territory of former Airport of Cortina d'Ampezzo "Sant'Anna" (CDF). Considering the un-sustainable practices of the past games like the one in Sochi (2014) and in Turin (2006), where Olympic Villages stay deserted and without function up-to now, Olympic committee’s main objective is sustainable after-event legacy. Therefore, our fundamental criteria while developing ideas, concern feasible construction practices and after event strategy of the re-use of residential units. Project site is located 6 km away from the center of Cortina, in the narrow valley of Boite river, surrounded by extensive forest and in terms of existing functions, there are few sport facilities with the focus on cross country skiing, few small hotels and a campsite. Project envisions transformation of the area with creating attractions for people and leaving 30 % of total accommodation of 1140 beds, on site. The residential units of Olympic village will be made-up of prefabricated, completely self-sufficient, timber modules. They are grouped in clusters of different configuration, which are easy to dismantle, or reconfigured according to needs and transported to different locations after the event. Modules are completely made of timber, which is characteristic to traditional alpine architecture, however they adopt contemporary timber construction practices utilizing innovative material as CLT (cross laminated timber). 

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of sustainability and how these would be met

The key objectives of Olympic village project in terms of sustainability lies into the approach to design, which is prefabricated modular character of units, the construction material used – CLT (cross laminated timber), and circular economy factor i.e - possibility of reuse of modules.The residential modules are completely assembled and equipped at the factory. When they are delivered on destination, the only action to be done on-site is to arrange a sufficient base for proper installation of modules. Therefore, comparing to traditional construction on-site works are minimised in this case. This factor ensures less waste production and higher efficiency of usage of construction materials. Timber has been a popular building material since time immemorial, but with recent concern over global deforestation – 13 million hectares lost per year – many people are questioning whether they should be using it. This is absolutely right – in regard to ‘conventional’ (destructive) logging. However, with sustainable forestry, at least as many new trees are grown than are harvested. Sustainable timber has the lowest embodied energy (energy used in its processing, production and transport, from tree to consumer use) of any mainstream building material, and far less than for steel, concrete or aluminium. As the embodied carbon in the average building accounts for 30-50% of its whole carbon footprint, this has the potential to make a huge impact. Finally, the proposed advanced method of modular building construction gives an enormous possibility of reusing the whole units for different purposes. The ease of installing components and transportation gives the opportunity for quick changes of location, function, and arrangement.  

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these would be met

The architectural value of the traditional mountain construction is determined by an artistic and original character which fits perfectly well climate conditions of locality, as well as it is characterized by a group of solutions that develops organically on the territory. Each architectural form is aimed not only at the single building, but at the social dimension and collective in which it is inserted. The project of the temporary Olympic Village, influenced by the mountain architecture legacy and aesthetics, is consisting of the modules which are self-sufficient, but their real aesthetical value is highlighted when connected into clusters. The small communities are formed in clusters, which suit perfectly the need for accommodation for athletes from the same country. By changing the configuration of modules – it is possible to adjust the clusters to the expected number of people. The proposed housing solutions take into account different elements: the needs of athletes, with their spaces available, their rhythms of life, the need for them to rest at different hours, the consequences of training and caring, and the needs of future users, who will permanently or temporarily inhabit the building for all years to come. One module includes one or two bedrooms dedicated for two or three people, that share one bathroom and one kitchen. The minimum living areas for Italy are met – 9m2 for single room and 12m2 for double room. In each cluster there is a common courtyard and terraces above for social meetings. The cosy atmosphere is created by usage of wood – the most natural building material. The façade is finished with the traditional alpine materials - larch shingles and wooden planks, with obvious horizontal division of facade.

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of inclusion and how these would be been met

The primary function of the designed building is the accommodation for athletes from all over the world, which means that the units need to be suitable for people of all the cultures. Their mental state during the event shall be focused only on the competition they take part in. The village they live in, must be prepared for their needs and cannot cause any problems. The conditions are equal and worthy, personalized with usage of national identification elements like national colors and flags. It is important to highlight the second part of the Games – Paralympics. This type of Games and athletes obviously involve having to think and build the village in such a way that it is equipped with a whole series of measures and solutions suitable to accommodate this particular type of users. However, remembering this point does not want to simplistically state that you provide some extra "equipment", or some extra "performance" - it means instead designing a city that is really for everyone, in age and means, a real city. All of the modules are adapted for the needs of disabled by adjusting the sizes of rooms and corridors and correct leveling the ground floor modules with connecting paths, so they are accessible for wheelchair users.  Flexibility is therefore a fundamental element of the modern Olympic Village.

Please explain the innovative character of your concept/ idea

Modular residential unites give the possibility of designing in a manner to manufacture and to be equipped completely in a factory environment thus minimize works on-site to avoid the traditional ‘construction’. The underlying goal is to use design processes that help facilitate a collaborative approach along the whole value chain, embracing design teams, clients, contractors, and offsite manufacturers. The primary advantage of modular building is speeding up the delivery time, so the buildings are made in 30 - 50% shorter time frame, comparing to traditional on-site construction. The work, unlike the traditional onsite construction, can go on despite any weather conditions. Buildings are occupied sooner, creating a faster return on investment. Moreover, the modules can be produced just after receiving all needed permits, parallelly preparing the site, foundations, and eventual host structure - built using a traditional structural system in order to fit with all the custom-made features of the site and the specific project requirements. The main feature of units designed for Olympic village, is their mobility. As all the modules are self- sufficient, after event they can be reconfigured into different scenarios, they can be transported by a track or other means of transport for example by air with a helicopter. Eventual scheme for modules after event is storage in the warehouse on-site and using it when there is a demand (An event, camp for children, holiday rental). Further step will be selling modules to private clients as holiday houses. Also Civil protection Lombardia seeks likewise solutions to utilize modules as emergency housing.  

Please detail the plans you have for the further development, promotion and/or implementation of your concept/idea, with a particular attention to the initiatives to be taken before May 2022

The project is being developed as a master thesis by Salome Pkhakadze and Ewa Tomczyk on Politecnico di Milano, under the supervision of professor Pierre-Alain Croset. After completing the documentation and defending the thesis, the project is supposed to be proposed for the temporary Olympic Village for Winter Olympic Games in 2026, which planning phase according to the schedule should start in October 2021. The authors are waiting for announcing the official competition or tender. In mean time, the meetings with the local CLT manufacturers are planned to discuss the material prototypes and possible cooperation. The advertisement of the investment might help in the distribution of modules after the event, so their circular character would be preserved.

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed concept/idea has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Rising Stars Awards more than once in the same category.