Palazzo del Lavoro, Turin

( P. L. Nervi, A. Nervi, G. Covre)

1
 Pier Luigi Nervi (1891-1979)
“[…] in my project work I noticed that static hints explained and defined with detailed
research and proportion are the most effective architectural enlightenments. To me
this is absolutely true, without exceptions”

1st MAY 1961

FIRST CENTENARY OF INTERNATIONAL

ITALIAN REPUBLIC LABOR DAY

Palace of Labor
2 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
3 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
4 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
5 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 THE COMPETITION BRIEF NERVI’S PROJECT
A detailed project, with structural calculations, Essential project: a square of 167 m
submitted before October 7, 1960; per side with neutral open space

The main section of the Exhibition Italia 61 was to Could be transformed into an industrial school
be hosted in the main hall; (Mies Van DerRohe's buildings such as Crown Hall)

Subdivision of the structure into independent

This internal space had to allow further uses elements: a series of smaller roofs to cover
the whole area

Decision to adopt different materials:

The plan of the building had to be symmetrical reinforced concrete and steel

The organization of the building site as a ‗work in progress‗:

The opening day was fixed on May 1, 1961; finishing works could begin in the areas where major
structural work was already complete

Palace of Labor
6 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
7 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 THE ROOF
Indipendent steel cover: the ―umbrellas‖
38 m
Continuous flat roof
Dome overall circular plan

38 m
Vaulted structure

Palace of Labor
8 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
9 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
THE COLUMNS

Palace of Labor
10 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
THE COLUMNS: ISSUES
VERTICAL ALIGNMENT
Vertical alignment This alignment is very difficult to
achieve with normal timber forms,
especially at the top.

CONTINUOUS SURFACE
It was difficult to provide Continuous surface
a continuous surface
between the cruciform NO TIME FOR CORRECTIONS
base and the circular top As there would be no time for
of the columns No corrections corrections the columns had to
be constructed perfectly from
the very beginning
THE FORM‗S STABILITY
the forms for the The form’s stability
columns had to be
accurately placed by a
crane and it had to have
its own stability

Palace of Labor
11 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
12 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
13 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
14 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
15 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
THE MEZZANINE FLOOR AND EXTERNAL WALL
Square of 10 m per side

Make a ring around exhibition space

Isostatic slab in renforced concrete
Indipendent structure

Palace of Labor
16 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
17 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
18 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Palace of Labor
19 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna
 Bibliography
•Architecture of Italy, Jean Castex , January 2008;

• ―Nervi Palace for Italy‖, LIFE , 16 june 1961;

• ―Three Resilient Megastructures by Pier Luigi Nervi‖, Manuel Cresciani and John Forth, International Journal of
Architectural Heritage, 8: 49–73, 2014;

• Poretti, S. 1997–1998. Le fabbriche del novecento—Cartiera Burgo, Mantova 1960–1964. In Casabella, 651–652
96–107;

• ―Palazzo del Lavoro‖ , http://www.museotorino.it,

Palace of Labor
20 Students: Accennato Flavia , Fracchiolla Anna