Bologna
Italy
Unipol Tower: a symbol of urban renewal and architectural excellence in Bologna
ABOUT
The Unipol tower is a skyscraper located in Bologna, near the Adriatic highway, on Via Larga. With a height of 127 meters, it is the tallest building in the Emilia-Romagna region.
The project involved the redevelopment of a former industrial area, including the skyscraper, a 4-star hotel, and a multifunctional area with a fitness center, parking, and a commercial plaza.
The hotel consists of two buildings of different heights, with a usable area ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 sqm, offering 180 rooms, a conference center, a bar, a restaurant, and common areas. The multifunctional platform connects the tower to the hotel and houses healthcare services, commercial units, and a public exercise facility on the ground floor. It also includes a large fitness area on the first floor, extending to the basement. A 20,000 sqm underground parking structure provides 800 parking spaces. The “Sail” space frame cover under the tower creates an open plaza for the city, protected from the sun and weather.
Completed in 2011, the Sail has an area of 3600 sqm with a structure made of circular tubular profiles connected by spherical nodes on the underside and rectangular tubular profiles connected by rigid flexural nodes on the topside. The topside mesh of the space frame is about 4×4 meters, on which ETFE cushions were mounted.
In 2023, there was a need to replace the previously used and weather-damaged material with Serge Ferrari Tenseo Advanced 1202 S2 HT high-resistance membrane. This membrane offers durability, chromatic homogeneity for transparency, and ease of cleaning. The high-translucency HT version ensures an optimal level of natural light in the covered area (TV= 17% EN 410).
The integration of design elements allows achieving excellence (class A) in terms of energy consumption, comfort, architectural quality, and property value. The complex was the first in Italy to obtain LEED Gold certification. The top floors of the tower host the CUBO corporate museum. The burial of the metropolitan railway line and the creation of pedestrian and cycling connections are transforming the area’s perception from industrial to urban, opening up new prospects for quality settlements.
Project Participants
Design: Open Project
Client: Unifimm s.r.l.
Location: Bologna, Italy
Structural Designer: MJW Structures
Membrane Installation: Canobbio
Membranes: 1202 HTL
Photos: Andrea Liverani
