Restoration, conservation, and functional adaptive reuse

ENGLOBE was responsible for the Technical and Economic Feasibility Project (PFTE) for the restoration and adaptive reuse of Palazzo Cisterna, a listed historic building located in the Piazzo district, within the historic center of Biella.

Promoted by the Piedmont Region, the project is part of a broader strategy for the enhancement of public heritage, with the aim of assigning the building a contemporary use fully compatible with its historical and architectural value.

A new hub for local Public Administrations

The project envisions the transformation of Palazzo Cisterna into an integrated service hub for Public Administrations, accommodating institutional functions, workspaces, public-facing areas, and facilities for educational and cultural activities.

The design strategy combines heritage protection, functional modernization, and accessibility, ensuring public use of the building and its reintegration into the urban fabric of the Piazzo district.

Design approach and intervention strategy

The building is characterized by a complex historical stratification, developed between the 13th and 17th centuries and shaped by subsequent functional transformations.

The project adopts a conservation-oriented approach, aimed at preserving and enhancing existing architectural features, limiting invasive interventions and favoring compatible, reversible, and clearly legible solutions.

All design decisions were developed in compliance with heritage and landscape protection regulations pursuant to Legislative Decree 42/2004 and in coordination with the relevant Heritage Authority.

Architectural design and functional layout

The spatial reorganization of the building is structured around the internal courtyard, which acts as the main distribution and organizational core.

The two historic entrances from Piazza Cisterna and Piazza Cucco have been preserved and enhanced, ensuring equal functional hierarchy and full accessibility.

The project includes:

• public-facing and reception areas on the ground floor, including reception and café spaces within historic, frescoed rooms;
• smart working areas and administrative offices for Public Administration staff;
• conference halls and representative spaces located in the most architecturally significant levels;
• temporary exhibition areas and storage spaces at basement level;
• multipurpose classrooms and temporary accommodation for students and visiting faculty on the upper floors.

Special attention has been given to the removal of architectural barriers, with the inclusion of an elevator system developed through two alternative design solutions (internal and external), defined in agreement with the Heritage Authority.

Seismic improvement and structural interventions

The structural design focuses on the seismic improvement of the building through localized repair and strengthening measures, fully respecting traditional construction techniques.

The adopted solutions prioritize minimal invasiveness, material compatibility, and improved global structural behavior, with targeted interventions on masonry walls and timber floor systems.

Building systems, safety, and fire prevention

The building is equipped with an integrated building services system designed to ensure comfort, efficiency, and safety.

Although the building does not fall under mandatory fire safety certification procedures, the project adopts the Italian Fire Prevention Code as a reference framework, with specific attention to listed buildings open to the public.
The design also includes access control systems, video surveillance, and differentiated user flow management in response to the multiple functions hosted within the building.

Restoration and enhancement of decorative elements

The restoration project is based on a detailed stratigraphic analysis of interior surfaces.

Interventions include the conservation of existing decorative layers, the recovery of historic wall paintings, mitigation of moisture-related deterioration, and the enhancement of valuable architectural elements, all developed in close coordination with the Construction Management team and the Heritage Authority.