MUSE and “Le Albere” area
The Quartiere delle Albere district, once the site of a Michelin factory, has been transformed into a vibrant new part of Trento. This post-industrial brownfield redevelopment now shares many characteristics with the city's urban fabric, including a clear design hierarchy, functional stratification, and a cohesive scale of buildings and materials. The urban renewal project has reconnected Trento with its natural surroundings, defined by the nearby Adige River and Monte Bondone. Previously separated from the city center by the railway, this district now feels psychologically closer. Quartiere delle Albere is also home to MuSe, the new Science Museum, further strengthening the area's cultural identity within Trento.
A unified mixed-use district that reconnects the city to the river
The new district, spanning 116,300 square meters, is distinctly bounded by the Adige River to the west and the railway to the east. Its northern edge borders the Palazzo delle Albere, a Renaissance villa-fortress. Designed as a mixed-use development, the project ensures that the area is self-sufficient, integrating essential services and functions. The new buildings maintain a clear and unified horizontal profile, comparable in scale to those in Trento’s historic center. They are concentrated on the eastern side of the expansive site, while the western portion remains open for a public park overlooking the river. Green spaces and a network of canals weave through the district, seamlessly connecting it to the river and surrounding natural landscape.
A human scaled development designed to bring people together around culture and recreation
The commercial buildings are arranged in a linear layout, with their green facades serving as natural screens that partially conceal the railway tracks behind them. The residential buildings feature open courtyards, strategically cut to allow glimpses of the tree-filled gardens within. Standing four to five stories high, these buildings are unified by their zinc roofs, giving the neighborhood a cohesive visual identity. Taller structures mark the district’s boundaries: a multipurpose building to the south and MuSe, a large interactive science museum, to the north.
MuSe serves as the project's focal point, drawing visitors alongside the Palazzo delle Albere—now home to the Modern and Contemporary Art Museum—reinforcing the area’s cultural and recreational identity. The urban plan positions these two landmark buildings as its main anchors, surrounded by water and connected by two primary pathways: a straight footpath along the east and a winding walkway following a canal that links the buildings to the park.
Sustainability played a key role in the design of the Quartiere delle Albere regeneration project. The buildings are highly energy-efficient, relying extensively on renewable resources. MuSe has achieved LEED Gold certification, while all residential and office buildings hold a Level B CasaClima classification. In recognition of their sustainability, they were among the winners of the 2013 CasaClima Awards.
Details on Foundation website
Project Details
Status
Client
Castello Sgr S.p.A. (with ITAS Assicurazioni SpA, Museo delle Scienze di Trento and Università degli studi di Trento)
Design
Renzo Piano Building Workshop, architects
Design Team
S.Scarabicchi and D.Vespier (partners and associates in charge), E.Donadel, S.Russo, A.Bonenberg, P.Carrera, T.Degryse, V.Grassi, F.Kaufmann, G.Longoni, M.Menardo, M.Orlandi, P.Pelanda, D.Piano, S.Polotti, G.Semprini, G.Traverso, D.Trovato, C.Zaccaria, C.van der Hoven andF.Bellabona, L.Soprani, C.Araya, O.Gonzales Martinez, Y.Kabasawa, S.Picariello, S.Rota, H.Tanabe; S.D’Atri, M.Ottonello (CAD operators); F.Cappellini, D.Lange, A.Malgeri, A.Marazzi, S.Rossi, F.Terranova (models)
Consultants
Favero & Milan, SCE Project (structure); Manens-Tifs (MEP); Associazione PAEA (energy); Müller BBM (acoustics); Dia Servizi (cost consultant); M.Vuillermin (hydrogeotechnical studies); A.I.A. Engineering (roads and associated infrastructure); Ingegneri Consulenti Associati (sewerage networks); GAE Engineering (fire prevention); Atelier Corajoud-Salliot-Taborda, E.Skabar (landscape); Tekne (cost and specification consultant); Twice/Iure (project co-ordination); Origoni & Steiner (graphics); Piero Castiglioni (lighting)
