CARITAS Pavillon

Milano, Italy

The Edicola has the appearance of a fragmented cube that translates into architectural terms the idea of creating wealth by sharing.

Photo © Andrea Martiradonna

In the heart of the Edicola, a work of art: the installation Energy, made in 1973 by German artist Wolf Vostell.

Photo © Andrea Martiradonna

The plot occupied by Caritas presents a number of different features: an outdoor paved area that greets visitors, a covered area divided into different rooms and a green area.

Photo © Andrea Martiradonna

The transparent skin unifies the structure, allows the passage of light and, at night, turns the Edicola into a lantern.

Photo © Andrea Martiradonna

Art + Installation + Exhibition

Architects: Piuarch

Year: 2015
Client: Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Italiana, Caritas Ambrosiana
Team: Miguel Pallares, Davide Fascione, Gianluca Iannotta, Alessandro Laner, Alessandro Leanti, Enrico Pellegrini, Jenny Spagnolatti, Santiago Trujillo, Anna Zauli

“Divide to multiply. Breaking the bread” is the theme represented in three dimensions in the pavilion with which Caritas takes part in the Expo; indeed, the architectural concept centres around the idea of sharing as an opportunity. The Edicola, this is the name of the small pavilion, has the appearance of a fragmented cube, the structure has been designed keeping simplicity at the core of its composition and the unadorned nature of its appearance. The structure is divided into 5 structures that are similar to each other but of different sizes and designed for different purposes. They are positioned on the ground and joined by vertices, a reference to the Edicola’s typical square floor plan. The uniformity of the construction is provided by its structural profile characterized by the same external dimensions, colour and materials. Thanks to its extremely simple structure, the Edicola is truly eco-sustainable. Externally, it is made of plastic pretensioned mesh that lets the air flow through without any need for air conditioning and lets in natural light which helps keep energy use to a minimum.