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A small chocolate factory explores the formative role that the chocolate-making process has had in society throughout time. Located in downtown Rome, the building explores chocolate mould-making and casting techniques on an architectural scale.
The site is located in the district of San Lorenzo, by the old Aurelian wall. The premise of the program has its roots in the history of chocolate, from its first mentions in history, through the colonial era to the present day.
The area of San Lorenzo was historically populated with old chocolate factories that flourished up until the Second World War. The building learns from the chocolate-making process.
The process dictates the function and character of the spaces, which are organised to accommodate two perspectives: the visitor and the worker.
Material, spatial, lighting and moulding experiments drive the design methodology, including explorations into walnut and hazelnut shell aggregates, incrementally formed steel moulds, and a variety of casting processes.