Our office constantly leads urban researches on abandoned areas of the metropolitan area of Turin, looking for architectural and social conditions where to apply regeneration processes; in 2016 we found an abandoned place, a former red light cinema located in an historical district near the main train station, which has slowly been subject to downgrading processes and urban decay. Our goal was to find a new subject, involved in cultural activities, to bring back this place to the citizens; the Foundation Cirko Vertigo, who was looking for a new place where leading courses and theatre shows for children and adults, decided to open here its new central location.
Thanks to a strong collaboration with the local community, who is fighting for a new life of the district, the place has been refurbished completely, reinforcing the regeneration process of the area. At the ground floor level in the atrium, a new cafeteria helps the arcade area to improve safety and control all day long; sometimes the show comes out from the theatre, invading the portico and the public space in front, and giving a new life to the neighbourhood. The Café Müller is now seen as the starting point of the regeneration process of the area.
Refurbishment of a former red-light cinema into a circus and dance school
CodeTCMProgramTheatre, conference, caféDimension650 sqmPlaceTorinoYear2017Design teamArchitecture: PlaC Structural engineering : INGeCO | Ing. Giorgio Tuninetti Technical systems: MC2 Engineering | Ing. Caminiti, Ing. ComiClientPrivateStatusRealisedPhotosAndrea Macchia