The square, the slaughterhouse, the market.

The architecture of the markets can be considered a portrait of an eternal structure, that conforms itself in close relationship with the city. The market can be understood historically and culturally as a container of a function, able to characterize itself as a lasting structure at the service of the founding dimension of the city, the commercial one.

The project of the market in the city center in Avellino has as main purpose to focus attention on the topic in itself. The place, the square, the street, stratified by history in an unrepeatable way, with their potentialities, constraints and vocations, represent the topic in which to find the solution and therefore the form. How to make this transient place also a staging place, and what reason should incite citizens to realize this expectation? Take advantage of the deep-rooted productive culture of the area could be the solution. The idea of pursuing the commercial dimension, with reference to history, culture and therefore to the intrinsic characteristics of the place, took shape in the design of the "Market of culinary excellence of Irpinia". The design choices have also paid particular attention to the type of use that the Market could have during the different hours of the day. The definition of different spaces, including the external ones used for green areas, has the purpose of guarantee a continuous use of the area both day and night. The initial study of the project area has redefined the original dimensions of the old slaughterhouse. The building plan has been studied and has been disclosed that it corresponds perfectly to a two radical rectangle, which in turn can be divided into two smaller two radical rectangles. It has been also revealed that the position of the two chimneys is not random, but contained along the diagonal of one of the two smaller rectangles. Finally, has been defined a grid, built considering the biggest rectangle. This grid, composed of 5 rows and 7 columns, has as module a square of 7x7 m. According to geometric scheme, the design of the shops and of the "mushroom" roofs, meaning the two main elements of the project, took place precisely in relation to the 7x7 m grid. The aim of the market is, therefore, to embody the soul of the place and bring it back to light through a rational and careful compositional process.