Chipperfield beats Fosters in Italian campus competition

David Chipperfield has won an international design competition for a new campus at the University of Padua in Italy.

The architect’s Milan office beat a list of invited practices that included Foster & Partners, Sauerbruch Hutton, Bak Gordon, Barozzi Veiga and Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos.

Chipperfield is collaborating with engineering company Steam on the PiaveFutura project for the University of Padua.

It will see a new campus built for the department of social and economic sciences on the former Caserma Piave barracks, a 50,000sq m complex between the two city walls in the south-west of Padua’s historic centre.

The existing complex includes buildings of the former Sant’Agostino convent which were used by the barracks from the 19^th century.

David Chipperfield Architects Milan’s winning scheme proposes the recovery of historic buildings for teaching, administrative and research activities as well as a new building at the centre of the campus.

This elliptical pavilion, built partially below ground, will serve study, catering and conference activities.

A spokesperson for the practice said: “The architectural concept is rooted in the idea of a building that will serve both the university and the city, acting as a social condenser.

“The historic architecture of Padua, such as Prato della Valle and the Botanical Garden buildings, is a clear source of inspiration for the proposal.”