The Farmacia Riva project involves the renovation of a mixed-use commercial–residential building located in a small mountain hamlet within the municipality of Belluno.
The existing building exhibited an extremely modest level of construction quality, with the main façade being the only element possessing an architectural identity. The objective of the intervention is the redevelopment and code compliance of the existing volume, in accordance with the most up-to-date standards of comfort, usability, and safety, while keeping the typological characteristics of the main elevation largely unchanged. This included a reorganization of the openings and the demolition of a later-added balcony.
The rear portion of the building was demolished and reconstructed with a volumetric extension that respects the alignments of the existing main façades. The roof form, clad in black metal sheeting, was simplified through the insertion of two dormer windows to re-establish a visual relationship with the surrounding mountains, particularly the southern view (Nevegal) and the northern view (Belluno, Monte Schiara, Monte Serva).
Openings on the secondary façades were repositioned according to the new internal layout, while maintaining the arbitrary arrangement of the original building. The external cladding of the façades is finished in light-toned rough plaster, consistent with the surrounding context. A stone base was added to the south and east façades. The window frames were specifically designed for this project and realized with structural glass on the exterior side, enhancing the effect of sharp cuts within the masonry.
The internal layout is organized around the centrality of the galenic laboratory, the true symbolic and operational heart of the building, which maintains visual connections with the pharmacy’s retail space, the offices, and the attic rest area, from which views open toward the surrounding mountains.
The retail areas on the ground floor feature stone flooring and wood-clad walls, while the office and laboratory zones employ partition elements with high acoustic comfort and antibacterial properties. All building systems were completely redesigned to meet high-quality standards. Within this system, the pharmaceutical storage and distribution area is fully automated.
The Plan Award 2022 Finalist
BigSEE Architecture Award 2023 Winner
