AGC Flat Glass Italia is one of the key players in a major new project: Sidera, the headquarters of CIA Conad, a cooperative consortium that has been a benchmark in Italian large-scale distribution and retail for 65 years. The project is located on the outskirts of Forlì, in an industrial area near the motorway exit.
Designed by tissellistudioarchitetti, Sidera is a response to a context lacking identity and architectural value. It is a transformative presence that enriches the surrounding area. The building is surrounded by 300 trees and 22,000 plants, firmly integrating it into the environment and counteracting the anonymity of the industrial zone.
Guided by a pragmatic approach incorporating rationality and functionality, the structure is 100 metres long and 33 metres high, standing on a 3-metre-high plinth. Sidera immediately catches the eye with its generous transparent facades, forming a sophisticated glass skin that envelops the entire building and creating a harmonious balance between interior and exterior. The facades are not only aesthetic, but have been designed to let in abundant natural light, flooding every workspace. Since precise lighting management is essential for promoting employee well-being and productivity, the light fixtures follow the 24-hour circadian rhythm. The facades feature AGC Stopray Smart 51/33 solar control triple glazing. Designed to deliver an optimal balance between solar control and light transmission, this product is the ideal solution for applications requiring abundant natural light, protection from excessive heat and high energy performance – all in a modern design. All Stopray Smart products give processors a choice: they can opt to keep the annealed glass or have the glass tempered, depending on the building's specific requirements. Either way, the glass always guarantees the same energy, light and insulation performance. Offering a single product suitable for two use cases has the benefit of reducing storage requirements. In addition to the glass selected for its 5,000 m2 of glazed facade, Sidera also stands out for its striking use of two other elegant and restrained materials: aluminium, as featured in the six kilometres of vertical fins, and black concrete. The aluminium fins dynamically reflect natural light, depending on the time of day and weather conditions. This, combined with the closely-set sunshade fins, creates a pleasing illusion: depending on the viewer's position, the building appears either opaque or transparent.
Another highly innovative element in this project is the roof, which the designers conceived of as a 'fifth elevation'. Their design factors in its visual impact when viewed from above, clearly influenced by modern tools like Google Earth. The vernacular pitched roof, unprecedented in industrial structures, features six sloping planes punctuated by three large skylights, establishing a virtuous dialogue with the nearby Apennine skyline.
Gold-coloured AGC solar control glass was used for the roof. This non-standard material was produced specifically for this project.
Inside, the design follows the principles of neuroarchitecture with a view to creating an optimal working environment. Natural light is carefully controlled and the air is filtered and purified. Expansive views of the outdoor greenery are accessible from every workspace. Every element is designed to stimulate physical and psychological well-being and productivity, with a layout that combines functional rigour with dynamism.
AGC once again confirms its role as a key partner in innovative projects capable of leaving their mark on the surrounding area. At its core, Sidera rejects formalism, focusing instead on addressing human relationships and sustainability. Its architecture translates the inevitable transformations and needs of modern life into vital and welcoming spaces.
