E-Building Ferrari | MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects

The e-building of Ferrari
Industrial architecture that respects the environment

Statement by Mario Cucinella, Founder & Design Director, MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects
“The project for Ferrari's new e-building in Maranello embodies an industrial architecture that will rejuvenate a significant portion of the city's manufacturing district. The building has been designed to achieve the highest energy certification levels while minimising environmental footprint through the usage of renewable energy sources. Innovation and design come together to enhance the project across all levels, from the building's form and façades to the identity of the surrounding environment in which it is located, an area recognised worldwide for Italian excellence in industrial and manufacturing expertise".

The context
The project by MCA - Mario Cucinella Architects for the new e-building of Ferrari included designing the external facades and the main internal spaces, as an example of industrial architecture that has been designed to meet Ferrari's most innovative and specific manufacturing needs. The project expresses excellence across processes and infrastructure.

The project
The project is situated within the new northern expansion area of the Maranello production site, which extends over a total area of 130,000 sqm. The design of the new building, which is on two main levels plus two mezzanine floors, encompasses a total area of 42,500 sqm., combining the functional requirements of this new production space and, by interacting with the surrounding environment, takes the opportunity to lay the groundwork for a high-quality regeneration process within Maranello's industrial area.
The building, which accommodates both the production and administrative functions, is devoted to the production of internal combustion, hybrid and, in the future, electric Ferraris

The facades
The e-building, which is a volume reaching a maximum height of 25 metres, embraces an industrial aesthetic by the application of a continuous, luminous façade of opalescent windows.
Beneath, prefabricated panels with alternating finishes provide a rhythmic base, interspersed with sections of clear glass, offering glimpses into the interior activities of the building.
This choice of translucent materials serves to dematerialise the substantial presence of the building, reflecting the surrounding landscape during daylight hours and transforming it into an illuminated beacon after nightfall; additionally, the use of opaline glass enables efficient filtration of sunlight, achieving optimal levels of evenly distributed natural lighting within the building.

Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)
The solution proposed was meticulously tailored to suit this manufacturing facility, akin to a bespoke garment. The outer skin, elegant yet highly efficient, was created to establish a distinctive identity that aligns with Ferrari's aesthetic standards. Moreover, the design and fabrication of the facade components were rooted in the engineering methodologies of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), to streamline on-site assembly.

This approach enabled a reduction in the environmental footprint associated with the materials and the processes, fostering efficiency in the post-construction and assembly phases.
The processes underlying the design concept align closely with Ferrari's dedication to efficiency in production methods to mitigate climate-changing gas emissions and to minimise resource consumption.

Mitigating environmental impact: strategies to minimise the ecological footprint
The design concept is based on the shared necessity to reduce environmental impact. The building was constructed without using new land, instead utilising the existing footprints of old industrial buildings in a newly designated expansion area of the Maranello production site, where Ferrari has been undertaking a complete territorial upgrade. From an environmental standpoint, removing these old industrial constructions will contribute in the reduction of CO2 emissions, and will additionally yield new public parking spaces, many of them equipped with electric charging points.
The entire building is designed to achieve a NZeb performance level of Class A2, with recyclable materials certified by leading organisations for minimal emissions of substances into the environment. Additionally, it features heat pump air conditioning systems, complemented by a substantial amount of energy production from renewable sources (1.3 MW of photovoltaic panels installed on the roof).
Water is managed by collecting it in a storage tank, enabling it to be reused within the building.
The building enclosure has been designed to deliver significant thermal performance, characteristic of the most modern office buildings but unusual for a production facility.

Efficiency and comfort
Ferrari envisioned this project to maximise people wellbeing. The internal configuration is based on arranging the production lines on two levels, to further optimize land usage.
Attention for people is expressed through every design aspect:
- the presence of numerous break areas, designed using materials and colours intended to enhance visual well-being;
- green spaces, both internal and external, such as the expansive garden overlooking the production activities. The outdoor space provides for the planting of approximately 200 new trees aimed at mitigating summer heat island;
- the design of the road network restricts heavy traffic to a specific area of the plant, thus reducing interference with pedestrian pathways.

General information
Client: Ferrari S.p.A.
Place: Maranello (Modena), Italy
Year: 2024
Area: 42,500 sqm

Project
Mario Cucinella Architects

Project team
Mario Cucinella
Project Manager: Michele Roveri
Design Leader: Michele Olivieri
Project Leader: Alessandro Gazzoni
Architects: Benedetta Mingardi, Maria Beccaria, Paolo Greco, Andrea Rossi, Lucrezia Rendace
R&D Unit Manager: Lori Zillante
Senior R&D Specialists: Lorenzo Porcelli, Valentina Porceddu
Visual Unit Manager: Alessia Monacelli
Senior Visual Artist Specialists: Walter Vecchio
Visual Artist Specialists: Lorenzo Mancini, Gianlorenzo Petrini, Vincenzo Metafora

Collaborators
Structural design: Planning Ingegneria
Building services and fire prevention design: Pool Progetti, SY.TEC Srl, Planning Ingegneria
Visuals: MCA Visual, Hido Visual
Photo: Duccio Malagamba