Year: 2014

Location: Pisa, Italy

Country: Italy

Owner Builder: Sviluppo Pisa S.r.l.

Contractor: Cooperativa Lavoratori per le Costruzioni di Livorno / Unical S.p.A.

Designer: Geol. Riccardo Giaccari / Grifa & Cuccatto Associati / Ing. Gino Bechi / Studio Amati Architetti / Studio Valle Progettazioni

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Problem / Solution

The building includes public and commercial spaces offices, and represents a strategic infrastructure hub.
The building is characterized by a first body with two floors above ground level and a rectangular body with variable volumes, with a pedestrian and commercial courtyard. The complex “Sixth Gate” of Pisa is located in a seismic and geologically difficult area, full of sand and clay, as recalled by the famous Tower of Pisa. The main problem is the limited load bearing capacity of the soil and the deformations which it is subject as a result of the application of loads. These problems were solved thanks to the solution for floors in “floating slab”, made of lightweight concrete with expanded clay.

Experience

Strength, lightness, durability and antiseismic.

Why expanded clay?

The use of lightweight expanded clay concrete as a structural material generates a benefit in terms of reduction of pressure on the bottom of the excavation of approximately 18%. In addition, the lightweight concrete as a structural material provides the designer works in seismic areas such as that under the clear advantage of mass reduction. The extent of seismic action is proportional to the mass of the structural elements affected; the use of lightweight structural concrete reduces the seismic stresses acting on them by reducing the inertial masses of the structure.