The transformation of a building of the 1970s into a contemporary sustainable building in the Mediterranean Basin

The paper shows the design strategies adopted by a group of graduands of the Faculty of Building Engineering at the University of Palermo involved in a research project aimed to analyse the problems related to the renovation of modern buildings and to solve them by using sustainable approach. In particular, the aim of the research is to investigate these problems in the context of the Mediterranean Basin by adopting, when possible, design criteria inherited by the traditional architecture where sustainable design strategies were used unconsciously. The graduands thesis consists in the transformation of Mazara City Hall into the new "Satiro Danzante Museum" by using natural ventilation system able to guarantee the comfort inside the building both for the users and for the art works too. The analysis of the Iranian Wind Towers and the "Sirocco Rooms" has suggested the use of a passive ventilation system; at the same time the analysis of contemporary sustainable buildings built around the world, has suggested the idea to define the new building envelope by using a particular "double skin façade" that exploits the chimney effect to discharge the hot air of the inner spaces out of the museum. The thesis represents a useful simulation of a design experience developed in a university research context that allows students to really understand the problems related to sustainable building envelope design in the context of the Mediterranean Basin.