The Ivrea municipal council recently approved a framework agreement with ICONA Srl and the Italian Environment Fund (FAI) to convert 5,500 square meters of the historic Officine ICO buildings into a new cultural gateway for the city’s UNESCO industrial heritage site, giornalelavoce.it reported. The project links the former factory spaces on via Jervis directly to San Bernardino and Monte Navale, establishing a unified visitor route across the industrial and natural landscape.
Transforming Via Jervis and the Second Ampliamento
The agreement targets roughly 5,500 square meters across two levels within the Second Ampliamento at via Jervis 9 and 11, owned by ICONA Srl. According to ameve.eu, this space will house the official UNESCO site Visitor Center complete with a ticket office, information desks, and reservation services. Alongside tourist coordination, the facility will feature an Urban Center dedicated to Olivetti architecture, contemporary landscape design, and urban regeneration.
Several cultural institutions are slated to collaborate within the new hub. The space will bring together the Fondazione Adriano Olivetti, the Associazione Archivio Storico Olivetti, the Laboratorio Museo Tecnologic@mente, and the Archivio Nazionale Cinema d’Impresa. Planners also intend to gather the Civic Library’s Olivetti Library Fund alongside other local collections inside the complex, supported by a bar and a multipurpose room for exhibitions, conferences, and training.
Restoring the Gardella Footbridge to San Bernardino
Beyond the exhibition rooms, the project establishes a physical passage from via Jervis through the Officine ICO to the San Bernardino complex. The initiative involves restoring the aerial footbridge designed by architect Ignazio Gardella during the 1950s. Originally built to carry workers between the Second and Third Ampliamento toward the factory canteen, the restored structure will now guide visitors across the industrial perimeter toward the religious and natural heritage of San Bernardino.
The neighboring San Bernardino site is already supported by a ten-million-euro intervention championed by FAI president Marco Magnifico. The Italian Environment Fund selected the fourth-century church—donated by the heirs of Camillo Olivetti and featuring frescoes by Martino Spanzotti—alongside a former TIM convent as a focal point for its upcoming preservation efforts. The restoration program extends beyond the buildings to encompass adjacent sports fields, recreational grounds, and the green spaces of Monte Navale.
Funding Sources and Three-Year Execution Timeline
Financial backing for the broader heritage preservation draws from multiple public and private contributors. The Ministry of Culture has committed six million euros to the initiative, with additional support provided by the Compagnia di San Paolo and the Piedmont Region. However, municipal authorities noted that the newly approved resolution does not immediately allocate city funds for the 5,500-square-foot ICO restructuring, leaving specific financial commitments to subsequent acts and external grants.
The framework agreement carries a thirty-six-month duration and serves a preparatory function rather than acting as a binding preliminary contract. ICONA Srl will provide the real estate availability for a 99-year term, while FAI manages the design and construction of the link connecting the Gardella footbridge to San Bernardino. If funding arrangements and implementation agreements fail to materialize within the three-year window, the current accord expires without financial penalties for the parties involved.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ivrea Cultural Hub
What specific spaces will occupy the 5,500 square meters of the Officine ICO?
The refurbished area will host a UNESCO Visitor Center, an Urban Center for Olivetti architecture, exhibition halls, a multi-purpose room, a bar, and consolidated archives from partner institutions like the Associazione Archivio Storico Olivetti and the Archivio Nazionale Cinema d’Impresa.
How much funding has the Italian government contributed to the wider project?
The Ministry of Culture has allocated six million euros toward the preservation and restoration efforts surrounding the San Bernardino complex and surrounding historic grounds.
What role does ICONA Srl play in the municipal agreement?
ICONA Srl owns the buildings at via Jervis 9 and 11 and agreed to make approximately 5,500 square meters of the Second Ampliamento available for a 99-year term to host the new cultural pole.
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