Alperia Tower

The filmic contribution of The Piranesi Experience, directed by Claudio Esposito, accompanies us through an unedited journey where a fine line is drawn between structure and Architecture.

The reservoir tower of the Alperia district heating plant in Bolzano combines technical innovation with a certain artistic preference, produced by a singular backlit perforated panelling, which adds value to the structure.

The camera’s initial shotsslip through the tower’s double skin –first through its thick metal cage structure, then through a perforated mask of anodized aluminium.

With the notes of Populous’s unpublished musical contribution, the reservoir turns on its coloured reflectors that uniformly emit light, starting with the holes in the cladding thus mimicking the frontal exterior of a building in which the first façade lights mark the dawn of a new day. The camera now pans out fluidly embracing the tower in its entirety as well as from every perspective. The congruous relationship between the Alperia tower and its context is also revealed: the towers of Castel Firmiano stand out against the fortress, while the various main high ways of the city penetrate the valley of the south-western outskirts of Bolzano.The colours of the day leave space for the evening. And, the photography of Fabio Paolucci expertly captures the passage of a bystander. The moving light spreads from the façade and synchronizes with the lights of the city,which are preparing for nightfall.

The Alperia tower now emanates its structural essence by turning on the LEDs and transforming itself into a dynamic architecture that converses with the skyline on the horizon.

Hence, the structure transforms into architecture and Architecture in turn becomes Art.