Colour Theraphy

Back in the 1930s, the original building was home to a chocolate factory (Turin being renowned for its chocolate production), surrounded by farmland and strategically situated at a junction between major link roads. In the wake of Turin’s large-scale urban expansion during the sixties and seventies, the building was swallowed up by the sprawling developments, depriving it of its original function and identity. The architecture was subsequently restored between 2007 and 2010 when it was given a major facelift and was converted to a high-end rehabilitation centre, Fisio&Lab Italia. The site was chosen both for its ideal location relative to the city and for its size, as the available floor space of approximately 1,100 square metres made it ideal for accommodating all the required activities. The complex and extensive refurbishment project was entrusted to architects Alessio Gotta and Monia Pecchio from Virtual Image. This Turin-based practice, which can boast numerous credits in the field of public spaces, developed a forward-looking building project that devoted special attention to environmental sustainability and has become a case study for the use of clean energy with a low environmental impact. The elevations were redesigned and the existing windows enlarged to become large glass surfaces, allowing natural light to flood in. The interiors were organised rationally to meet the various functions of reception and physiotherapy treatment (reception, waiting room, medical studios, offices, gyms, changing rooms, pools for water rehabilitation, areas for employees as well as external spaces and a multifunctional room). Along with the high quality of the interiors, further distinctive features of the project included the choice of wall covering materials and a highly personalised use of colours. Specifically, tiles from Ceramica Vogue were used in the rehabilitation centre changing rooms and showers, along with bathroom anterooms and toilets. These consist of one block, with separate spaces for men and women, for the rehabilitation gym, and a second block with the same characteristics for users of the rehabilitation pools. The walls in the four changing rooms are covered with ceramic tiles in four different colours (Giada, Cedro, Laguna and Girasole), while the tiles used for the floors are suitable for barefoot use in the presence of water and were chosen in the same neutral colour (beige) to give a sense of continuity to the space. The colour of the wall tiles is the same as that of the doors, creating the sensation of being immersed in the space.