Built in the 1920s for Fiat, Lingotto was the largest and most modern car manufacturing plant in Europe, both architecturally and in terms of car production. The design by young architect Matté Trucco was unusual in that it had five floors, with raw materials going in at the ground floor, and cars built on a line that went up through the building. Finished cars emerged at rooftop level, where there was a rooftop test track. For its time, the Lingotto building was avante-garde, influential and impressive. Le Corbusier called it "one of the most impressive sights in industry", and "a guideline for town planning". 80 different models of car were produced there in its lifetime, including the Fiat Topolino of 1936.
The factory became outmoded in the 1970s and the decision was made to finally close it in 1982. The closure of the plant led to much public debate about its future, and how to recover from industrial decline in general. An architectural competition was held, which was eventually awarded to Renzo Piano, who envisioned an exciting public space for the city. The old factory was rebuilt into a modern complex, with concert halls, theatre, a convention centre, shopping arcades and a hotel. The eastern portion of the building is the headquarter of the Automotive Engineering faculty of the Polytechnic University of Turin. The work was completed in 1989. The track was retained, and can still be visited today on the top floor of the shopping mall and hotel.
This is one of the coolest posts I’ve seen on here. The track on top of the building, plus the fact that it actually was repurposed and is still used today is so cool. The photo used here makes it look even cooler.
CameronFuckedmyPigsays
This track features in the classic The Italian Job movie.
joaoslr says
Built in the 1920s for Fiat, Lingotto was the largest and most modern car manufacturing plant in Europe, both architecturally and in terms of car production. The design by young architect Matté Trucco was unusual in that it had five floors, with raw materials going in at the ground floor, and cars built on a line that went up through the building. Finished cars emerged at rooftop level, where there was a rooftop test track. For its time, the Lingotto building was avante-garde, influential and impressive. Le Corbusier called it "one of the most impressive sights in industry", and "a guideline for town planning". 80 different models of car were produced there in its lifetime, including the Fiat Topolino of 1936.
The factory became outmoded in the 1970s and the decision was made to finally close it in 1982. The closure of the plant led to much public debate about its future, and how to recover from industrial decline in general. An architectural competition was held, which was eventually awarded to Renzo Piano, who envisioned an exciting public space for the city. The old factory was rebuilt into a modern complex, with concert halls, theatre, a convention centre, shopping arcades and a hotel. The eastern portion of the building is the headquarter of the Automotive Engineering faculty of the Polytechnic University of Turin. The work was completed in 1989. The track was retained, and can still be visited today on the top floor of the shopping mall and hotel.
Photo source
Crossposted from /r/ModernistArchitecture
velvetprotein says
This is one of the coolest posts I’ve seen on here. The track on top of the building, plus the fact that it actually was repurposed and is still used today is so cool. The photo used here makes it look even cooler.
CameronFuckedmyPig says
This track features in the classic The Italian Job movie.
https://youtu.be/T_ZImfAxOu0
cryingfortheshark says
Thanks for giving the full info right away, should be standard to include the architect/designer like you did
jimmyd8466 says
Such a cool building. When I first saw an old school photo I swore it was photoshop. Couldn’t believe anyone would actually do this. Amazing!
Glab91 says
Oh I was there 2 days ago.
Cool to see it here.