Cellia, the interactive façade to regenerate buildings

It is called 'Cellia' and it is the first building façade system to have won a Compasso D'Oro, becoming part of the collection of the prestigious Adi 'Oscar', which recognises the quality of Italian design products. It was conceived and patented by architect Massimo Roj and Progetto Cmr in synergy with Gruppo Focchi and is an extremely high-tech module: it is reactive and sensitive to the conditions of the external environment with which it interacts, it integrates in its own shell (which is attached to existing or new buildings) all the material and plant engineering components necessary to adapt the building from the point of view of energy performance and, where necessary, anti-seismic, and it can be positioned with a fast and economical construction site, without invasive work involving the necessary displacement of inhabitants during the construction phase. It is fully customisable in terms of finishes, dimensions and performance levels, designed to restore even architectural beauty where it is applied, and is assembled with the assembly of engineered components produced in the factory, with an advanced off-site supply chain.

A 'first' in history, which arrives in a very special year: because 2024 is the 30th anniversary of Progetto Cmr and the 70th anniversary of the Adi Compasso D'Oro Award, born in 1954 from an idea by Gio Ponti. The ceremony took place on Thursday, 20 June: Cellia was awarded the prestigious prize in the category of design of materials and technological systems and sanctioned the success of the alliance between the design studio founded and led by Massimo Roj, which has always been a champion of the integration of skills as a distinctive feature and a winning card, and the Focchi group, which is a company with strong experience in engineered façade solutions and realised on order.

'The idea to create this module came from listening to the needs of the market, our partners and customers,' explains Massimo Roj. Italy is characterised by an obsolete building stock, with 84.5 per cent of buildings constructed before 1990, unlike countries such as France and Germany, and with a very low renewal rate of 0.85 per cent per year. However, the actuality not only of regulations, but also of environmental, safety and living comfort requirements, calls for a profound renovation. For this, it is necessary to think about contemporary solutions that are inclined to functionality and ecstasy". Cellia encompasses different functions in a single interactive cell: from the air-conditioning and ventilation system, to cabling, from shading systems (fixed with vertical/horizontal brise soleil and mobile with technical blinds) to energy production through photovoltaic panels and both internal and external lighting to seismic consolidation. Moreover, this innovative system can be remotely controlled and integrated with the most advanced Building Management Systems.

Maurizio Focchi, president of the Focchi Group, adds: "The envelope should no longer be considered as a technical separating element of a building, but as an active component that plays a crucial role in sustainability and interior comfort. For this reason, the façade is interactive and can be installed quickly and easily on both new and existing buildings, reducing construction time. Maintenance has also been designed to be easy and safe, and therefore more economical, thanks to the study of housing points and access to the internal units.