1. Home
  2. /
  3. Energy Plant
  4. /
  5. Hydroelectric Power Station 'Punibach' in Mals, Italy by mon...

Hydroelectric Power Station 'Punibach' in Mals, Italy by monovolume architecture + design

Project name:
Hydroelectric Power Station 'Punibach'
Architecture firm:
monovolume architecture + design
Location:
Mals, South Tyrol, Italy
Photography:
René Riller
Principal architect:
Design team:
Simon Constantini, Benjamin Gaensbacher
Collaborators:
Interior design:
Built area:
605 m²
Site area:
Design year:
2010
Completion year:
2011
Civil engineer:
Structural engineer:
Otmar Pattis
Environmental & MEP:
Landscape:
Lighting:
Supervision:
Visualization:
Tools used:
Construction:
Material:
Exposed concrete and larch wood
Budget:
Undisclosed
Client:
Puni Energy Limited Company
Status:
Built
Typology:
Industrial › Hydroelectric Power Station

monovolume architecture + designAn opening in the landscape. In the north-western part of South Tyrol, at the edge of the Ötztal Alps, lies the alpine farming village of Planeil at 1600m above sea level. As one of the driest areas in this region the mountain streams, such as the Puni River, are central lifelines for agriculture and local artisans. Another important use of the water is the use of hydroelectric power to generate electricity.

Below the picturesque village, surrounded by an awesome mountain scenery, the "Punibach" hydroelectric power plant embeds itself in the alpine surroundings as a simple, formal gesture of landscape architecture. The structure seems to emerge from the landscape. Like a wing, the sloping terrain opens up to reveal the power station. Curved and soft forms make the building look like a natural elevation in the landscape and thus create a harmonious connection between nature and technical infrastructure. The use of exposed concrete and larch wood reinforce the natural character of the structure.

The interior houses the machine room, medium-voltage room and control room. Daylight penetrates the building's interior through the laminated facade made of larch wood. At night, however, this appearance changes and the light from the interior penetrates to the outside, making the power plant a landmark visible from afar.


By Naser Nader Ibrahim

Share on: