Page 123 - C_Modena

Fondazione Universitaria Marco Biagi | Marco Biagi Foundation 201

An open circular structure with pillars located at the bottom of the tower
worked as a connection between the south-western and the south-east-
ern fronts. The façade of this structure was characterised by the presence
of three windows whose height covered the height of both levels. The
opposing north-west front was marked by a progressive volumes’ retrac-
tion, closed by a pillar open structure, as if it was a small court.
The west longitudinal side, which was linear and clean, was character-
ised by a sash window, interspersed with loadbearing walls coated in
cotto and interrupted in the center by the entrance door with over-
hanging rounded pillars, on which was laid a platform roof.
On the other hand, Guerzoni operated on the longitudinal east side
with little interventions, leaving the appearance of the old Barbetta
Stable almost unaltered, by maintaining the two floors – intended as
offices – and by creating a regular sequence of windows.
The central body is placed in a rearward position compared to the
two lateral overhanging bodies. This difference in height allowed the
presence of glass windows to illuminate the corresponding hall. This
wide central room, characterised by tall rounded pillars against the
long walls, housed the gym. All the other spaces aimed at assistive and
recreative purposes were located around the gym. The pitched roofs
characterising the old stable were made flat.
After a few years, further interventions were already carried out. As a
matter of fact, in 1938, following the engineer Ruggero Guerzoni’s
project, a semi-circular building located on the south-east facade was
created, aimed at facilitating a post office.
Immediately after the war, the building became State property and was
given to the Province, that in turn assigned it for many years to the
‘Fermo Corni’ Vocational High School for the introduction into the
world of work, whose premises had been destroyed during the war. For
this reason, the building’s internal facilities were adjusted to the newest

Il portone di ingresso, Fondazione Marco Biagi, Modena The entrance door, Marco Biagi Foundation, Modena