LAB71 architects of Rome signs Casa 500, a new exhibition space that through memories, emotions and dreams traces the culture and history of a city that is intertwined with the timeless 500. Not only a car museum, Casa 500 starts from the roots of the brand, passing through the three generations of FIAT to arrive finally at the current status symbol of the icon of the automotive world. The concept “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle” was the foundation that inspired the creation of the spaces and materials chosen for the installations, thus declaring the identity of the project, which is attentive to sustainability and respect for the environment.
Raw materials such as wood and metal are reused and all vertical surfaces are made of panels or antibacterial paints in line with contemporary needs. Located on the fourth floor of Pinacoteca Agnelli and directly facing La Pista 500, the project respects the authentic internal spatiality defined by the original project of Giacomo Matté-Trucco and later by Renzo Piano’s intervention, leaving the central area as free as possible.
In fact, at the center stands a large installation in the shape of a full-height tree made of recycled wood, at its feet we find the historic Mascherone of the Fiat 500 and on the other side the New (500)RED. If the wood of the Mascherone blends with the installation to represent solid roots, the New 500 is proposed as a new beginning, creating a past-present dichotomy that comes to life with the tree as a metaphor. The exhibition is divided into 8 thematic areas that, through photos, videos, advertising posters, multimedia screens and immersive paths through history and design, take visitors on a 360° experience.
CREDITS
Project: Casa 500
Architect: LAB71 architetti
Year: 2021