The project involved the construction of the first Esselunga-branded superstore in Rome, comprising the retail areas and service zones such as food preparation, distribution, kitchens, bakery, storage facilities, technical rooms, and parking areas.
The architectural design features simple volumes and materials consistent with the local building tradition. The main ventilated façades are clad in soft-mud facing bricks, complemented by Cardoso gray stone elements used for plinths, copings, and horizontal string courses. These elements articulate the façades and act as continuous lintels for all window and door openings.
The main entrance, located on the southern elevation, is defined by a low brick arch with a glazed lunette, composed of two overlapping rings inspired by the load-relief arches of Roman architecture. On the north side lies the loading and unloading area, equipped with a raised dock directly connected to the processing zones. Customer parking is distributed both at grade level and in an underground garage located beneath the building and adjacent outdoor areas.
From a structural perspective, the building rests on shallow foundations over tuff and pozzolanic soils and is organized into three main components: the foundation and retaining works in cast-in-place reinforced concrete, the envelope structure made of precast reinforced concrete elements, and the superstructure in steel framing for the roof and canopy systems.
The 7,500 sqm sales area was designed to ensure maximum plan flexibility, with only twelve central columns supporting 30-meter-span precast beams. These beams are lightened with inserts to reduce weight and facilitate transport and installation. The main beams were prestressed with bonded tendons and subsequently post-tensioned on-site, featuring a real-time deformation monitoring system. The northern roof section is complemented by a self-supporting steel canopy composed of lattice frames and sandwich panels.
The HVAC system is powered by high-efficiency heat pumps, with dedicated air handling units serving the various functional areas. Domestic hot water is produced through solar thermal panels integrated with high-temperature heat pumps, capable of meeting the needs of both operational departments and service areas. The adopted solutions ensure excellent energy performance and a high level of indoor comfort.
