Technical Portal for Sustainable Architecture
Extreme Resistance and Industrial Precision: The Technological Coating for Modern Architecture
Extruded Stoneware Ventilated Facades: High-Performance Ceramic Engineering
VM Group is a leader in the design and installation of advanced extruded porcelain stoneware systems, a technically superior solution that combines the aesthetic versatility of ceramic with unparalleled mechanical performance. We collaborate with leading global manufacturers, including Buchtal, to offer building envelopes that represent the state-of-the-art in durability.
Unlike traditional pressed stoneware, the extrusion process gives the slabs a more compact molecular structure and superior resistance to thermal shock and impact, making it the ideal material for critical infrastructure and large urban complexes.
The Advantages of VM Group's Extruded Stoneware Technology:
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Invisible Anchoring Systems: We implement certified, concealed mechanical fastening systems that enhance the flatness of surfaces without aesthetic interference, while ensuring maximum safety against detachment.
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Chemical and Physical Inalterability: Extruded stoneware is completely immune to UV rays, salt water, and pollutants. It is a zero-maintenance material, capable of maintaining its original colors throughout the building's lifecycle.
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Specialization in Large Formats: Our thirty years of experience allow us to manage the installation of large slabs with pinpoint precision, coordinating the aluminum substructures to absorb thermal expansion and ensure a consistently perfect façade.
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Sustainability and Certifications: VM Group extruded stoneware systems contribute to improving overall energy efficiency, supporting the achievement of LEED and BREEAM certifications thanks to optimized internal thermal comfort.
From high-precision industrial facilities to airport and railway infrastructure, VM Group transforms extruded stoneware into an intelligent, safe, and durable architectural shield.
Buchtal concealed fastening system
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Green Redevelopment: The 9,700 m2 Active Envelope
Ceramica Fotoattiva e Fotovoltaico Integrato: Sostenibilità Energetica e Purificazione dell'Aria
In this impressive redevelopment project, VM Group transformed a condominium complex into an active architectural entity. With a surface area of 9,700 square meters, we integrated cutting-edge technologies to combine maximum energy savings with protection of the urban environment.
Climate Engineering: The Facade that Purifies the Air
The main cladding was made of photoactive ceramic (1200x600 mm). This revolutionary material exploits the principle of photocatalysis:
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Pollutant Reduction: Thanks to the action of sunlight, the ceramic surface actively neutralizes the main air pollutants (NOx), contributing to the healthiness of the city's air.
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Self-Cleaning: The hydrophilic properties of photoactive ceramic allow the façade to remain clean over time with only rainwater, drastically reducing maintenance costs.
Energy Integration: The Building as a Renewable Powerhouse
VM Group's true innovation lies in the integration of architectural photovoltaics (BIPV):
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Strategic Exposure: For south- and west-facing facades, we integrated photovoltaic panels directly into the ventilated facade system.
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Continuous Facade: Thanks to our technical expertise, we perfectly coordinated the aesthetics of the ceramic tiles with the photovoltaic modules, eliminating visual interruptions and creating a fluid and modern technological surface.
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Insulation and Safety: The package includes a high-density rock wool insulation layer, ensuring excellent thermal insulation and maximum passive fire protection (Class A1).
The Future of Condominium Construction
This redevelopment demonstrates how VM Group is the ideal partner for transforming existing buildings into intelligent envelopes. We combine the millimetric precision of the ventilated façade with the production of clean energy, delivering buildings that not only protect those who live in them, but regenerate the surrounding environment.
The integration of photovoltaics into facades requires meticulous ventilation management to prevent the modules from overheating and ensure maximum yield. VM Group has designed the cavity to ensure constant air flow, integrating specific fire barriers for facades with electrical components, guaranteeing total protection of the system for over 60 years.
Bologna High-Rise: Large-Scale Building Envelope Engineering
5,500 m2 of Ventilated Facade in Buchtal Gres: Energy Integration and Vertical Design
In the heart of one of Bologna's new residential districts, VM Group created the architectural envelope for a three-building complex, culminating in a 12-story tower. With a total area of 5,500 square meters, the project represents a benchmark for the management of large-scale construction projects with high technical and logistical complexity.
Industrial Tailoring: The Project's Crux
The aesthetic and technical challenge was met through meticulous management of color variations and construction details.
Technical Strengths:
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Tri-Tone Color Scheme: We used Buchtal extruded stoneware in three textured shades (Iron Gray, Volcano Gray, and Light Gray). The alternating arrangement of the slabs adds movement to the volumes, eliminating the "monolith" effect typical of large vertical surfaces.
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Corner Nodes and Special Finishes: Our thirty years of experience are evident in the precision of our 45° corners and the design of custom aluminum casings. These elements ensure perfect watertightness and impeccable flatness even at the most critical structural joints.
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Active Energy Envelope: The inclined upper enclosures are not just architectural features, but also house integrated photovoltaic panels. This system transforms the top of the tower into a renewable energy power plant, maximizing the complex's energy efficiency.
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Safety Engineering: Given the tower's height, the mechanical fastening system was designed to withstand high wind loads, ensuring maximum safety and durability of the technological package.
Partner for Large Real Estate Developments
The Bologna project demonstrates VM Group's ability to serve as a single partner for general contractors and investors. We combine the power of an organization capable of managing large-scale projects with artisanal sensitivity in architectural detail, raising the value of the property to international standards.
Residenza Viterbo: A Balance Between Tradition and Buchtal Technology
Extruded Porcelain Stoneware: The Aesthetics of Terracotta with Cutting-Edge Performance
In this redevelopment project in Viterbo, VM Group reinterpreted the local architectural identity through the use of high-end Buchtal extruded porcelain stoneware. The goal was to combine the visual warmth of traditional terracotta with the unbeatable performance of an engineered dry-laid system.
Material Integration and Formal Cleanliness
The choice of material and installation system was dictated by the desire to raise the building's quality standards without altering its connection with the urban context.
Technical Characteristics of the Project:
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High-Tech Terracotta Finish: We selected a color tone faithful to traditional terracotta, but with the physical properties of extruded stoneware: virtually zero water absorption, complete resistance to frost cycles, and UV resistance.
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Concealed Mechanical Attachment System: Despite the limited surface area of 400 square meters, we used an invisible fastening technology. This ensures a clean aesthetic, where the material takes center stage, free from visual interference from external hooks or supports.
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Envelope Efficiency: The installation of the ventilated system has corrected the thermal bridges of the original structure, ensuring superior living comfort and a significant reduction in air conditioning costs for the condominium owners.
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Asset Enhancement: The transformation of the façade is not merely aesthetic; the adoption of a certified Buchtal system increases the property's market value, ensuring the finish will last for decades without the need for maintenance.
CR Project Viterbo: The Evolution of Industrial Design
Corten-Effect Porcelain Stoneware: The Aesthetics of Metal, the Durability of Ceramic
The redevelopment of the CR Project headquarters in Viterbo is an excellent example of how a ventilated façade can elevate an industrial building to an architectural landmark. VM Group transformed a production facility into a striking material envelope, using Buchtal stoneware panels with a Corten finish.
Industrial Performance and Formal Rigour
The choice of extruded stoneware in this particular finish meets the need to combine a modern, "lived-in" aesthetic with technical performance that natural metal could not guarantee in terms of maintenance.
Technical Specifications:
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High-Performance Corten Finish: The cladding faithfully reproduces the color nuances of oxidized metal, but with the chemical stability of ceramic. This eliminates the risk of oxidation stains on adjacent surfaces and ensures consistent color saturation over time.
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Concealed Fixing Engineering: Despite the building's industrial use, an invisible mechanical fastening system was adopted. This choice enhances the linearity of the 400 square meter slabs, creating a continuous and architecturally rigorous "skin."
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Thermal Insulation and Durability: The ventilated envelope corrects the thermal inertia of the warehouse, optimizing the building's energy management costs. The resistant surface of the extruded stoneware protects the building from impacts and aggressive weather conditions, requiring zero maintenance.
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Corporate Identity: Architecture becomes a branding tool: the new façade communicates innovation, solidity, and attention to detail, key values for CR Project's market positioning.
Volumetric Restyling in Milan: The Metamorphosis of the Building Envelope
From Dated Structure to Rigorous Design: Architectural Transformation Engineering
This project represents one of the most complex and rewarding technical challenges undertaken by VM Group in Lazio. It was not a simple cladding project, but a radical volumetric redesign of a commercial building to adapt it to 21st-century aesthetic and performance standards.
Structural Challenge: Redefining the Profiles
The original building had a dated aesthetic, characterized by jarring roofs and fragmented lines. Our mission was to "linearize" the architecture without major demolition.
Transformation Phases:
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Custom Auxiliary Metalwork: We designed and installed a metal support structure specifically designed to "box" the old rounded roof. This engineered skeleton allowed us to create a new, perfectly rectangular and rigorous profile.
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Extruded Stoneware Technological Skin: We installed a high-end porcelain stoneware ventilated façade system on the new volume. The result is a building with a contemporary look, where clean lines conceal state-of-the-art thermal insulation technology.
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Efficiency and Asset Value: The transformation is not just visual. The new envelope has eliminated the thermal bridges of the old structure, drastically improving the energy efficiency rating and significantly increasing the property's market value.
Giving New Life to Concrete
The "Before and After" images of this construction site demonstrate VM Group's vision: we are capable of seeing the hidden potential in obsolete buildings and transforming them into valuable structures. Our technical expertise allows us to overcome existing structural limitations, offering turnkey solutions for architectural restyling.
Lecce Hospital: Safety and Durability in Healthcare Architecture
Hybrid Envelope in Extruded Stoneware and Aluminum: Performance Standards for Complex Infrastructures
For the Lecce Hospital project, VM Group engineered a ventilated façade system designed to meet the rigorous requirements of the healthcare sector. The project stands out for its expert integration of different materials, coordinated to ensure a durable, hygienic, and energy-efficient envelope.
Hygiene and Protection: Choosing Materials
In a hospital setting, the façade is not just an architectural element, but a protective barrier that must ensure superior safety standards.
Technical Specifications of the Project:
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High-Density Extruded Porcelain Stoneware: Selected for its virtually zero porosity, extruded stoneware ensures complete resistance to atmospheric agents and ease of sanitization, essential in a medical environment. It is an inert material that does not favor the growth of mold or bacteria.
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Integration with Composite Aluminum: The alternation of ceramic slabs and aluminum panels allowed us to manage complex volumes and differentiated substructures, ensuring seamless continuity between floors and a reassuring contemporary design.
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Optimization of the Internal Microclimate: The constant natural ventilation system acts as a thermal buffer, reducing energy requirements for summer air conditioning and improving thermal and acoustic comfort within the departments.
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Construction Engineering and Coordination: Our thirty years of experience have allowed us to manage logistics and large-scale installation on a sensitive construction site like a hospital, ensuring compliance with precise timelines and extremely stringent technical specifications.
Architecture at the Service of Healthcare
The construction of the Lecce Center demonstrates VM Group's ability to serve as a technical partner for large-scale public works. We transformed the façade into a tool for the well-being of patients and medical staff, creating a safe, efficient structure designed to stand the test of time without the need for invasive maintenance.
Fano Residence: Material Continuity and Inspectable Technology
Integrated Ceramic Envelope: The Excellence of Buchtal Gres in Marine Environments
In Fano, on the Adriatic coast, VM Group created a ventilated façade system that redefines the concept of architectural continuity. The project was not limited to the vertical walls, but extended the Buchtal extruded stoneware cladding to the ceilings and under balconies, creating a protective and fluid ceramic shell.
Detail Engineering: Aesthetics and Maintainability
The true innovation of this project lies in the management of undercuts and the safety of the anchoring system in a saline environment.
Project Strengths:
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Inspectable Concealed System: We implemented an advanced engineering solution that allows for pure surfaces, free of visible fixings, while also ensuring the possibility of inspecting the cavity. This technology is essential for monitoring the systems and the condition of the supports over time.
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Inner Ceiling and Balcony Cladding: Installing extruded stoneware on the exterior ceilings required meticulous attention to mechanical restraint systems. The result is a seamless material effect that enhances the building's aesthetic prestige, eliminating the problems of plaster peeling typical of coastal areas.
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Salt Resistance and Coastal Durability: The selected extruded stoneware is a chemically inert material, immune to the effects of salt spray and humidity-laden winds. This ensures the building will retain its original appearance for decades, with zero routine maintenance costs.
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Excellent Thermal Insulation: The ventilated envelope protects the structure from seasonal temperature fluctuations, ensuring superior internal comfort and complete protection of the concrete reinforcement from the risk of carbonation.
Architecture Without Compromise
The Fano project demonstrates VM Group's ability to solve the most challenging geometric challenges. Bringing the ventilated facade "above the user's head" means mastering the physics of fastening systems, offering a tailored aesthetic that transforms a residential condominium into a work of contemporary design.
Leonardo da Vinci High School: Engineering for the School of the Future
Chromatic Dynamism and Certified Protection: The Excellence of the VM Group Ventilated System
At the "Leonardo da Vinci" High School in Villafranca in Lunigiana, VM Group created a technologically advanced building that places student safety and energy efficiency at the heart of the project. The project demonstrates how a ventilated façade can transform a public institution into a model of contemporary and sustainable architecture.
Sustainability and Fire Safety
The design followed rigorous criteria to ensure a safe and high-performance learning environment from every technical standpoint.
Technical Specifications of the Project:
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Multicolored Extruded Ceramic Composition: We played with a refined color palette to break up the monotony of traditional school buildings. The ceramic slabs are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also offer extreme surface resistance, ideal for high-traffic environments.
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Inspectable Concealed Fixing System: As already tested in elite contexts, we also applied invisible technology here that allows for inspection of the cavity. This provides the Public Administration with a building that is easy to monitor and maintain over time.
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Rock Wool Insulation (Class A1): To ensure maximum fire safety, the cavity contains rock wool insulation, a natural, non-combustible material that, combined with natural ventilation, eliminates the risk of condensation and mold.
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Thermo-Acoustic Comfort for Teaching: The ventilated façade system creates a "thermal buffer" that insulates classrooms from outside noise and temperature fluctuations, drastically reducing the school's energy management costs.
Building the Future, Together
The construction of the Villafranca High School demonstrates VM Group's versatility in managing complex public contracts. We have delivered a building that is not just a school, but a safe, durable architectural structure capable of inspiring new generations through the beauty of well-applied technology.
Alì Supermarkets in Bologna: The Packaging as Corporate Identity
Multi-Color Design and Inspectable Technology: Ventilated Facades for Large-Scale Retailers
In the construction of the Alì store in Bologna, VM Group demonstrated how ventilated façade technology can be transformed into a powerful architectural branding tool. The project combines brand image requirements with the highest standards of energy efficiency and maintainability.
Commercial Engineering
In a highly frequented urban context, the building envelope must guarantee consistent performance and superior resistance to pollutants.
Technical Details of the Project:
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Customized Color System: We used extruded ceramic in a multicolored palette that strictly adheres to the brand's aesthetic standards. The precise color combinations ensure a modern and distinctive visual impact, essential for the store's recognition.
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Inspectable Concealed Fastening Technology: For a commercial building, speed of intervention is everything. We implemented an invisible fastening system that allows for immediate inspection of the cavity and the rapid replacement of individual panels, ensuring complete operational continuity.
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Smog Resistance and Self-Cleaning: The selected extruded stoneware is highly resistant to pollutants typical of metropolitan areas. The surface remains unaltered over time, drastically reducing cleaning and maintenance costs for the facade.
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Optimal Microclimate and Energy Savings: Natural "chimney effect" ventilation reduces summer heat load, a critical factor for large commercial spaces that require constant internal temperature control and reduced air conditioning costs.
Reliability on a Commercial Scale
The project for Alì Supermarkets confirms VM Group's ability to serve as a strategic partner for large-scale retail trade. With thirty years of experience, we can manage the complexities of commercial construction sites, ensuring timely completion, technical rigor, and an aesthetic that enhances the company's assets over the long term.
AXA Viterbo Headquarters: Executive Building and Institutional Prestige
Rigorous Design and Certified Safety: Ventilated Facades at the Service of Major Brands
The new AXA Assicurazioni headquarters in Viterbo is a benchmark in contemporary office architecture. VM Group engineered a 370-square-meter ventilated façade that translates the brand's values of solidity and reliability into a high-performance building structure, capable of combining impeccable aesthetics with the most stringent safety standards.
Representation Engineering: Aesthetics and Function
The insurance sector requires buildings that reflect efficiency and precision; therefore, every technical detail was meticulously considered to ensure a top-quality finish.
Technical Characteristics of the Project:
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Fully Retractable Flat Surfaces: The use of high-end extruded ceramic, installed with invisible mechanical fastening systems, created a pure architectural appearance without visible fixings. This solution enhances the building's modern monumentality and corporate identity.
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Advanced Thermal and Acoustic Insulation: The ventilated envelope creates a dynamic barrier that protects the offices from seasonal temperature fluctuations and urban noise, ensuring an optimal working environment and a real reduction in energy costs.
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Passive Safety and Fire Protection: Consistent with our thirty years of experience, the cavity wall has been equipped with rock wool insulation, a natural, non-combustible material that ensures maximum fire protection, a fundamental requirement for public and office buildings.
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Durability and Resilience: The durability of extruded stoneware ensures that the aesthetic prestige of the AXA headquarters remains unchanged over time, resisting atmospheric agents and wear without the need for costly maintenance.
Technical Partner for the Office Sector
The construction of the AXA headquarters confirms VM Group's ability to engage with international clients, offering turnkey solutions where millimetric precision in installation meets the efficiency of proven engineering. We protect the value of your property with the same care you take to protect your clients.
Romagna Impianti Imola: Chromatic Dynamism and Inspectable Engineering
The Versatility of Extruded Stoneware: When the Facade Becomes a Technological Tool
At the Romagna Impianti headquarters in Imola, VM Group completed a 280-square-meter project that redefines the concept of an industrial envelope. The challenge was to transform an existing volume into a manifesto of precision and modernity, using extruded stoneware as a chromatic breakthrough and functional innovation.
Operational Flexibility and Multicolored Design
In a company focused on plant engineering, the façade cannot be a limitation; it must be an open and accessible system.
Technical Characteristics of the Project:
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Multichromatic and Dynamic Scheme: We designed a layout based on three different shades and alternating formats that breaks up the monotony of the industrial volumes. This choice gives the building a technological image, aligned with Romagna Impianti's core business.
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Fully Inspectable Anchoring System: The technological heart of the project is the special concealed system engineered by VM Group. This solution combines aesthetic purity (no exposed hooks) with complete operational functionality: access to the cavity is guaranteed for maintenance or future system upgrades without damaging the cladding.
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Durability and Industrial Resistance: Extruded ceramic guarantees superior performance in production environments: resistance to thermal shock, immunity to pollutants, and a color brilliance that defies time.
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Energy Efficiency and Comfort: Thanks to constant natural ventilation, the building benefits from reduced thermal loads, improving the quality of the internal work environment and reducing operating costs.
Engineering that Enhances Business
The Imola project confirms VM Group's ability to create "smart" envelopes. We don't just cover walls; we design systems that support the building's technological evolution, ensuring high-quality aesthetics and ease of maintenance that represent real added value for the company's assets.
Viterbo Redevelopment: Light and Thermal Performance
Urban Rebirth in White Ceramic: Highly Reflective Sustainability
In Viterbo, VM Group led the transformation of a traditional condominium into a benchmark for bright and sustainable architecture. The extensive renovation project included the adoption of a ventilated façade in white extruded ceramic, selected for its exceptional optical and performance properties.
White Engineering: Aesthetics and Energy Savings
Color is not just an aesthetic choice, but a precise passive thermal control strategy.
Technical Specifications of the Project:
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High Albedo and Solar Reflectance: The white finish of the extruded stoneware reflects a large portion of solar radiation, drastically reducing the walls' overheating in summer. This effect, combined with natural ventilation, reduces air conditioning costs by 30%.
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Unalterable "Anti-Smog" Surface: Thanks to the almost zero porosity of the extruded ceramic, the façade repels fine dust and urban pollutants. The white remains bright and pure over time, permanently eliminating the periodic repainting costs typical of traditional plaster.
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Rock Wool Insulation and Breathability: We integrated a thermoelectric rock wool insulation layer, ensuring fire protection (Class A1) and excellent acoustic insulation. The dry system allows the building to "breathe," permanently eliminating mold and internal condensation.
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Revaluation of Real Estate Assets: The architectural transformation generated an immediate improvement in energy efficiency, significantly increasing the market value of the apartments and improving the quality of life for residents.
Redevelopment with the Engineering of the Future
This project in Viterbo demonstrates how our thirty years of experience can breathe new life into existing buildings. With VM Group, redevelopment is not a simple "restyling," but a technological investment that transforms old concrete into an active, efficient shell designed to maintain its prestige for decades to come.
Regeneration in Viterbo: From Cortina to White Ceramic
Material Evolution and Sustainability: The Technological Metamorphosis of the Building Envelope
In Viterbo, VM Group has completed a major renovation project that represents a successful challenge in the modernization of the building stock. The project documents the transition from a heavy and dilapidated aesthetic to a contemporary architectural volume, redefining the concept of living comfort through ventilated façade engineering.
Resolving the Past with Future Technology
The transition from the old brick facade to white extruded stoneware was not only aesthetic, but also functional in resolving chronic structural issues.
Technical Specifications of the Project:
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Remediation and Protection from Infiltration: The old brick facade showed evident signs of deterioration and micro-cracks. The installation of the ventilated façade created a protective shield that permanently eliminates the risk of infiltration, protecting the building's structural integrity.
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Self-Cleaning White Engineering: The choice of white extruded stoneware is not just a style statement, but a technical solution to combat smog. Thanks to its molecular density, the surface is virtually self-cleaning: rain is sufficient to remove atmospheric deposits, maintaining its shine for decades.
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Radical Energy Efficiency: By replacing the inert mass of the curtain wall with a ventilated and insulated system, we have created a high-performance envelope that drastically reduces energy requirements for heating and cooling.
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Improved Urban Microclimate: Thanks to the high solar reflectance index of white ceramic, the building stops accumulating heat, helping to cool the surrounding air and providing immediate well-being to residents.
We Give New Life to Building Heritage
This project in Viterbo is a testament to how VM Group's thirty years of experience can transform a construction problem into an investment opportunity. We took an "aging" building and transformed it into a high-quality, secure, and technologically advanced real estate asset.
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