The Eridania industrial area, located near Russi, in the province of Ravenna, is bordered to the northwest by the Lamone River and crossed by the Faenza-Ravenna railway. Once dedicated to sugar production, the area is now mainly used for canning and storage, covering 46,000 square meters. A portion of 280,000 square meters, including three large wetlands, has been reclaimed and renaturalized, returning the area to the community.
The master plan for the hub, designed by Giovanni Vaccarini, includes a low-tech environmental device, characterized by an embankment that acts as an interface between the rural and industrial areas. This edge, created as dunes similar to those of the Adriatic landscape, varies in height between three and ten meters and hosts trees, cycle paths and pedestrian paths. This configuration not only mitigates the environmental impact, but also creates a visual and functional transition between the agricultural landscape and the new industrial hub dedicated to energy production.
The estimated annual production of the hub is 222 GWh, enough to cover the energy needs of 84,000 families, contributing significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The facility includes plants for the production of energy from wood chips, a biogas plant fueled by livestock slurry, and a photovoltaic system of approximately 1,000 m2. This project is in line with the European Union guidelines, which aim to reach 32% of energy from renewable sources by 2030. Currently, energy from biomass represents a significant share of renewable energy in Europe, contributing 10% of the total and covering 59% of renewable energy production.
The large structures of the complex, covered in wood, are inspired by the Razzle Dazzle camouflage technique, used during the Great War to disorient the observer. This technique, combined with a changing pattern of wooden shingles, makes the perception of the building constantly variable, reflecting a tribute to the art of weaving and nomadic architecture.