You might got to Milan, Rome, or Florence as your first destination when you visit Italy. Some people prefer shopping, some are in favor of the Italian cultural sites and historical monuments. However, when it comes to Torino, the minority for most of tourists, what's the image on your mind?
Besides the bicerin, the shroud, or the palace of Savoy, nowadays Torino has became a contemporary scene for the arts and architecture. Not only because the well-planned urbanism of government but also the tolerance and open-mindness of the public, the city embraces the new and the experiments on different aspects. Therefore, some would say Torino is a "City of Liberty". In this article, we will briefly introduce three contemporary architectures you would not miss when you travel here - or let's say, you might even visit Torino for a glance on them.
NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM (Italian: Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile) locates in the south-east part of Torino and just beside the river Po bank. The museum has almost 200 cars of collection from European cities and brands; there is also a bookshop, a cafeteria and a library inside the museum. You might be impressed by the volume when you first see the architecture. It was designed by Amedeo Albertini and constructed in 1960; the year after, the Universal Labour Exposition was also organised in this district. The area soon became a symbol of modernity of the city.
As you can see, the huge, arcuated and multi-material layers were renovated by Italian architect Cino Zucchi in 2000s. The old facade has been overlaid with new cladding, made with glass panels and different degrees of transparency, aiming to redefine the relationship between the urban landscape.
Address : Corso Unità d'Italia, 40, 10126 Torino TO, Italie
Transportation : C.T.O. bus station
Opening Hours : Mon 10:00-14:00 / Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00
Tarif : Full price admission : 12 € / Reduced price admission : 10 € / Free entrance under age 6
The gallery, PINACOTECA GIOVANNI E MARELLA AGNELLI, locates in the historic industrial complex which renovated by Renzo Piano, who is also the architect of Centre Georges-Pompidou. This old building originally was an automobile factory of Italian car manufacturer "Fiat", designed and constructed in 1916 by Matté Trucco. With five floors and a huge test track on the rooftop which was an incredible and avant-garde design at that time, once commented by Le Corbusier as "one of the most impressive industrial sights" and "a guideline for urban planning".
After the closure of the factory, Renzo Piano rebuilted it into a complex of shopping mall in 1989. He retained the rooftop track and left it opened to public that people could come here and enjoy the view of the city. The “Scrigno” (English: casket), which Piano refers it to the hanging structure he designed, is the space of the gallery.
The gallery conserves permanently 25 masterpieces from Giovanni and Marella Agnelli private collection, including Picasso, Manet, Matisse, Balla, Modigliani and so on.
Enjoy the scenery from the rooftop.
Address : Via Nizza, 230/103, 10126 Torino TO, Italie
Transportation : LINGOTTO metro station
Opening Hours : Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00 / Closed on Monday
Tarif : Full price admission : 10 € / Reduced price admission : 8 € (groups, over 65, conventions) / Special Reduction : 4 € (schools, children 6-16 years-old) / Free entrance for children, people with disabilities and Torino+Piemonte Card
Opening in 2002, FSRR aims at becoming the international exhibition venue for emerging artists, promoting contemporary art and support the arts environment in Italy. The building was designed by architect Claudio Silvestrin, who was known for minimalism design. You could see the dominant white walls stand still and vertical. It's not only for the simplicty, but also for the efficiency of installing the work and the itineraries for the public.
In the linear space of the gallery, there are three separate rooms for different expositions. Each is quite spacious like a box. From the modern art work to the digital experiments, FSRR engages in introducing different genres of arts to the public.
Address : Via Modane, 16, 10141 Torino TO, Italie
Transportation : RIVALTA bus station
Opening Hours : Fri-Sun 12:00-19:00 / Thu 20:00-23:00 Free Entry
Tarif : Full price admission : 5 € / Reduced price admission : 3 € (students and over 65) / Free under 12 years-old
In Torino, there are just too many galleries and modern/contemporary architectures that you can't even count. If you have adequate time spending here, remember to plan the route before you depart.
Words and Photographs by Che Fen OU YANG