Header: Pietro Savorelli, Marcin Dworzynski and Courtesy of tissellistudioarchitetti
Located in Forlì, Italy, Sidera is the new headquarters for CIA Conad, having been designed by tissellistudioarchitetti with a strong focus on neuroarchitecture. This workspace was especially designed to enhance well-being and productivity, an approach that won the project the Architectural Design – Commercial category at the prestigious BLT Built Design Awards.
The building’s exterior was designed with a combination of aluminium, concrete, and glass, materials chosen for their durability and ability to interact with natural light. As daylight shifts, so does the building’s appearance, but the materials aren’t the only exterior element that connects the structure with its surroundings. A pitched roof with skylights, which the designers consider a “fifth elevation”, inserts Sideral in its environment by visually connecting it with the nearby Apennine mountains.
Once inside, the layout was especially designed to create open, flexible spaces instead of the traditional, rigid office structures that most people know. Wide staircases and large communal areas encourage workers to move around and connect with their peers, making the interior design a fulcral element of the designer’s architectural approach. As mentioned above, the “neuroarchitecture” approach makes employees comfortable in their environment, and the overall connectivity with the exterior allows them to feel rooted even if they are in a closed-off space—a stark difference from the typical office we are all familiar with.
Sustainability played a big part in Sidera’s design, as it is surrounded by 300 trees and 22,000 plants and boasts a photovoltaic system that fully covers the building’s energy needs. These elements further show this “neuroarchitecture” approach, as they make the office a place that actively supports both people and the environment.
Breaking away from the traditional, Sidera avoids strict symmetry and rigid layouts and, instead, embraces a more organic, adaptable style. Here, workers see a workplace that evolves with them and gives them space to feel creative—as we know, there are few things as motivational as knowing that your job cares about your well-being.
