Peter Pichler Architecture has unveiled the newly completed Bonfiglioli headquarters, located in Calderara di Reno, Bologna, Italy. The design focuses on creating an efficient and practical office building that reflects the professionalism, innovation, and proud heritage of this Italian company.
Founded in 1956, Bonfiglioli is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of gear motors, drive systems, planetary gearboxes, and frequency converters. Their solutions play a vital role across industrial automation, mobile machinery, and renewable energy sectors worldwide.
The headquarters completes the EVO large-scale development project, the group’s largest industrial base in Italy. Designed to meet the latest energy efficiency standards, EVO minimizes environmental impact. It is powered by a photovoltaic power station with a peak capacity of 3 megawatts, installed not only on the roof of the new factory building but also on the sunshade of the employee parking lot.
The new headquarters is designed as a near zero energy building (NZEB), featuring ground source heat pumps and radiant ceilings to maximize energy savings and enhance indoor comfort. The building’s imposing presence integrates smoothly with its surroundings, becoming a recognizable landmark that exemplifies sustainable development through intelligent geometry.
The design integrates the existing master plan’s courtyard building into the overall volume. This courtyard includes a green garden on the ground floor and promotes natural ventilation through a chimney effect. The roof is tilted and the north facade extended to optimize indirect natural light, expanding the workspace.
The south-facing exterior wall and roof are clad with a custom continuous pleated aluminum mesh, serving as a secondary exterior layer. This mesh filters intense sunlight, maintaining a comfortable indoor environment while reducing energy consumption. Inspired by the company’s gears, the wrinkled geometric shape symbolizes the brand, while the aluminum mesh evokes the metal shavings produced in the company’s manufacturing process.
Designed with future adaptability in mind, the building features an exoskeleton facade that creates column-free open spaces. The interior exemplifies modern workplace design, fostering connectivity and collaboration.
The architectural layout strategically distributes departments across different floors to maximize public interaction and synergy with adjacent buildings. Two spiral steel staircases serve as both functional connections between floors and symbolic centers of creative exchange, enabling continuous flow of ideas.
On the third floor, a bridge spans the internal courtyard, linking various departments and encouraging communication and workflow.
Emphasizing health and comfort, the building incorporates green spaces and maximizes indirect natural light to enhance the work environment. Its distinctive sloping roof creates six south-facing terraces, offering tranquil outdoor spaces for reflection and relaxation.
These terraces also provide stunning views of the iconic Santuario Madonna di San Luca, connecting occupants with the outdoors and enriching their daily experience.
Bonfiglioli’s new headquarters is not just a workspace—it stands as a symbol of sustainable industrial design. It exemplifies low-carbon, energy-independent architecture, embracing circular economy principles and adapting flexibly to the evolving needs of both the company and its employees.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
△ Fifth Floor Plan
△ Sixth Floor Plan
△ Seventh Floor Plan
△ Eighth Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Peter Pichler Architecture
Area: 6200 m²
Project Year: 2024
Photographer: Gustav Willeit
Lead Architects: Peter Pichler, Silvana Ordinas
Design Team: Peter Pichler, Niklas Knap, Simona Alù, Ugo Licciardi, Cem Ozbasaran, Filippo Ogliani, Giovanni Paterlini, Domenico Calabrese, Nathalia Rotelli, Angela Ferrari, Alessandro Cardellini, Simone Valbusa
On-site Supervision: Studio Taddia
General Contractor: Ing Ferrari, Pichler Projects
Project Management: Federico Mazzanti, Chiara Persi, Vincenzo Lamanna
Structural Engineer: Oyana
Fire Consultant: ICS Ingegneria
Acoustic Design: Solarraum
Location: Calderara di Reno, Italy
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