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Shaped around local forms and everyday materials, the new civic center adds a quiet contemporary layer to Carpi d’Adige.
Designing modern structures for sleepy towns and traditional villages is a challenge. On one hand, the architectural design should ideally create a dialogue with the surrounding buildings, without overwhelming their charm. On the other, the new addition should have a bold presence that is anchored in the present moment. The Civic Center by Archiplanstudio is a perfect example of contemporary architecture that enriches the fabric of a quiet town while gently carving a mark on its history.
Located in Carpi d’Adige in Verona, the region of Veneto, Italy, this civic center stands at the entrance of the town; a modern structure that softly weaves past and present in its refined design. The two-story building has an asymmetrical form that gives a nod to the gabled houses of the old village while translating the familiar shape into a contemporary language. A lower section further defines the public space and shelters a garden.
Inside, the building blends traditional and modern influences in a clean, minimalist design. Exposed wood beams and contemporary timber furniture complement pristine white walls, eye-catching red accents and tactile concrete finishes. Open and airy, the civic center welcomes locals in a bright, laid-back and quietly elegant space that fosters a sense of community and hope. In the end, the architecture firm achieved the impossible: creating a space that feels completely at home among more traditional buildings yet also writes a completely new chapter in the architectural story of the town. Photography by Simone Bossi.
