Zintek chosen for the Marconi–Lévinas school complex in Merano
In the Maia Bassa district of Merano, between the Adige and Passirio rivers, the new Marconi–Lévinas school complex redefines the relationship between educational architecture and its urban surroundings. The project — which began life as an architectural competition launched by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano — sits harmoniously in an area on the border between city and countryside.
The complex was designed by the architects Giovanni Maggioni, Mirko Noris and Valerio Tolve, led by Marco Robecchi, and comprises three distinct volumes: a tower block, a linear building, and a raised square that connects the two.
The buildings’ pure and legible forms are inextricably tied to their function.
The tower is home to the Emmanuel Lévinas School of Social Professions. Form meets function in this compact and minimalist structure: behind a modular façade made of vertical strips of Smoke Grey zintek®, classrooms and labs are set along an asymmetrical corridor that optimizes the layout, natural light, and ventilation.
The linear building, which houses the Guglielmo Marconi School, is divided into three storeys — for use by the electronics and business departments — plus a podium featuring laboratories and workshops. A long, full-height ribbon window opening onto the podium on the ground floor defines the street-front section of the building. The upper floors protrude slightly above the square, creating a sheltered and distinctive space.
The concept of the square continues in the large, glazed atrium, which houses offices, a library, and a multipurpose room. Here the design tangibly evokes the idea of school as a public space: a permeable, bright environment that improves comfort levels in the labs and fosters relationships, exchanges of ideas, and engagement.
Sustainability is tackled pragmatically, with passive choices — orientation, mass, shading, and natural ventilation — prioritized over technological solutions. Green surfaces, although small, help to cool the space and mitigate the sun’s heat.
The zintek®-clad ventilated curtain wall, combined with insulation and low-emissivity glass, ensures excellent energy performance. Ceiling heating systems and controlled mechanical ventilation with enthalpy heat recovery are powered by district heating, with integrated solar water heating and photovoltaic panels.
The Marconi–Lévinas complex — a new focal point in the industrial landscape on the outskirts of Merano — evokes a concept of education based on transparency and inclusivity. The architecture does more than simply house students. It plays an active role in their training and in the life of the community.
Photographs: © Federico Covre
