- Lingotto
Lingotto is a district of
Turin ,Italy , but the name is most associated with the Lingotto building on the "Via Nizza", which once was a huge carfactory , constructed byFiat . Built from 1916 and opened in 1923, the design (by youngarchitect Mattè Trucco ) was unusual in that it had five floors, with raw materials going in at the ground floor, and cars built on a line that went up through the building. Finished cars emerged at rooftop level, where there was a rooftop test track. It was the largest car factory in the world at that time. For its time, the Lingotto building was avante-garde, influential and impressive—Le Corbusier called it "one of the most impressive sights in industry", and "a guideline for town planning". 80 different models of car were produced there in its lifetime, including the famousFiat Topolino of 1936.The factory became outmoded in the 1970s and the decision was made to finally close it in 1982. The closure of the plant led to much public debate about its future, and how to recover from industrial decline in general. An architectural competition was held, which was eventually awarded to
Renzo Piano , who envisioned an exciting public space for the city. The old factory was rebuilt into a modern complex, withconcert halls ,theatre , aconvention centre ,shopping arcades and a prestigioushotel . The work was completed in 1989.The Lingotto building is featured extensively in the
Alberto Lattuada film "Mafioso" (1962).The original Lingotto rooftop test track can be seen briefly during the getaway sequence in the film "
The Italian Job " (1969).Lingotto is also the site of the
Oval Lingotto , thespeed skating venue for the2006 Winter Olympics .External links
* [http://www.fotogian.com/oval.html Photos of Oval Lingotto]
* [http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Fiat_Works.html Great Buildings Entry]
* [http://googlesightseeing.com/maps?p=1479&c=&t=k&hl=en&ll=45.031993,7.665474&z=17 Google Earth view of Lingotto]
* [http://www.focchi.it/projects/lingotto-exhibition-center/ About the project of Lingotto Exhibition Center]
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