Restauro e riuso del Paraboloide di Casale Monferrato / Conservation and adaptive reuse of the Paraboloide in Casale Monferrato

Abstract

The Paraboloide of Casale Monferrato, the only surviving structure of the former Robatti cement plant, is a unique example of early 20th-century industrial architecture in reinforced concrete. Built between 1922 and 1923 as Italy’s first parabolic-vault warehouse, it represents a milestone in structural experimentation and in the history of the national cement industry. Its geometry, based on parabolic arches, embodies the principle of ‘structures resistant by form’ and anticipates later achievements by engineers such as Pier Luigi Nervi. Today the building, in severe decay after decades of disuse, is at the center of a restoration and adaptive reuse project promoted by the Municipality of Casale Monferrato within the framework of national urban regeneration policies. The intervention aims to consolidate the structure, safeguard its industrial heritage, and reconfigure it as a flexible public space—an urban ‘covered square’ capable of hosting cultural events, exhibitions, and community activities. Integrated with the redevelopment of the surrounding area, the project aspires to transform the Paraboloid into both a symbolic landmark of local identity and a catalyst for sustainable urban regeneration.