1.4K 
Bjarke Ingels Group has won an international competition to design a new flagship factory and bottling plant for S.Pellegrino, a Nestlé-owned brand of mineral water and real-fruit sodas made in the Province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy. The 17,500-square-metre facility will replace the existing plant in San Pellegrino Terme, where the natural mineral water has been bottled since 1899.
The invited competition curated by Studio Molinari in October 2016 selected BIG and MVRDV as the finalists. The winning proposal was unveiled earlier this week at the Feltrinelli Foundation in Milan. The €90 million development embraces the terrain and geography of the site, particularly the serpentine run of the Brembo River and the sloping Alpine mountainsides, referencing the industrial heritage that has made S.Pellegrino one of the most successful producers of mineral water in the world.
"Today we are laying the first symbolic stone of the Factory, which will become the flagship of our Group," said Stefano Agostini, President and CEO of the Sanpellegrino Group. "Out of all the projects presented, BIG's proposal was the most representative of our brand values and our company’s commitment: to restore our role as Made in Italy ambassadors; tell an extraordinary and non-outsourceable story of mineral water; generate real value and benefits for the community in which we operate; enhance the quality of work for our personnel —and therefore, increase production — reinforcing the sense of belonging and passion for working in a progressive, comfortable, and gratifying environment."
The revitalized property will serve as an extension of the original building's functional architecture, while paying homage to the hallmark elements of Italian design and urbanism. The arcade, viale, piazza, and portico create a cohesive environment for staff and visitors that integrates production, consumption, nature, and architecture. Throughout the campus, a series of expanding and contracting archways frames the interior space. Majestic vaults, covered tunnels, arcades, and green pergolas evoke the history and heritage of the company.
"It is with great excitement that we embark on this collaboration with S.Pellegrino. Rather than imposing a new identity on the existing complex, we propose to grow it out of the complex," said Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner of BIG. "Like the mineral water itself, the new S.Pellegrino Factory and Experience Lab will seem to spring from its natural source. We propose to wash away the traditional segregation between front and back of house, and to create a seamless continuity between the environment of production and consumption, and preparation and enjoyment."
A giant core sample in the middle of the campus functions as a public artwork and a monument to the site's history. The crystal-like structure will illustrate the 30-year journey the mineral water endures to acquire the minerals and achieve the purity distinct to the S.Pellegrino brand. BIG, S.Pellegrino, and local architects from Studio Verticale will collaborate on the project for the next four years, with ground breaking scheduled to occur in 2018. The bridge connecting the plant to the commune of Zogno, then linking to a parking structure for heavy vehicles, will be given first priority. In 2019, the focus will shift to the offices, the northern wing of the building and the Experience Lab, where visitors can discover the process of mineral water production.
Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
