Borsoni Theatre

Awards

  • EUmies Award 2026

    Nominated project

  • Piranesi Award 2025

    Nominated project

  • Premio internazionale Dedalo Minosse 2025

    Special mention

  • Paris Design Awards 2025

    Winner Project

  • Architizer A+ Awards 2025

    Finalist

  • Brownfield Award 2025

    Second Prize

Borsoni Theatre

The “Oltre la Strada” project regenerates the Porta Milano district in the city of Brescia through a strategy that combines infrastructure, urban planning and socio-cultural initiatives. At the centre of the transformation stands the new theatre, conceived as a catalyst for urban regeneration through culture within a former industrial area that has experienced progressive physical and social decline over recent decades.
The new building takes the form of a 21 × 64-metre parallelepiped rising 9 metres in height, with a scenic tower approximately 19 metres tall at its centre. Externally, the building is characterised by an original prefabricated concrete construction system. In contrast to the solid concrete envelope, the entrance loggia is clad in aluminium panels.
The entrance space is carved into the volume through a deep, angled loggia approximately 7 metres high, incorporating a bar accessible both from inside and outside. The foyer includes a ticket office and cloakroom and is organised as a double-height space.

“Il qual composto tutto di diamanti, uno allato all’altro, è molto ricco e vario, e fa bellissimo vedere. […] che non solo recano bellezza et ornamento infinito a quel contado, ma utilità e commodo grandissimo ai cittadini.”

Giorgio Vasari (Le vite, 1568)

The project establishes a new urban and civic identity in an area that once hosted industrial activities, preserving the memory of the site while strengthening its relationship with the surrounding community

From Industry to Culture
A New Urban Identity

Info

Location

Brescia - Italy

Status

Built 2024

Client

Brescia Municipality

Total area

approx. 7.000 sqm

Built area

approx. 3.500 sqm

Program

Theater with a main hall (312 seats) and a children's hall (169 seats)

The sole person in charge of the procedure:
Arch. Gianpiero Ribolla

Assistance:
Arch. Gianluigi Barucco, Arch. Laura Treccani

Design, Coordination, and Technical Direction of the project:
Arch. Camillo Botticini (ARW Associates)

In collaboration with:
Brescia infrastrutture srl
Resp. Eng. Alberto Merlini

Project Leader:
Arch. Paola Daleffe (Brescia infrastrutture srl)

Project Team:
Arch. Stefano Bordoli, Arch. Paolo Livi, Eng. Massimo Torquati (Brescia infrastrutture srl)

Structural Consultants:
Eng. Alessandro Gasparini

Consultants for ITF and Electrical Design:
Eng. Andrea Andreis, Fabio Bolzoni

Acoustic Consultant:
Arch. Eleonora Strada

Artistic Direction of the works:
Arch. Camillo Botticini (ARW Associates)

General Direction of the works:
GAP PROGETTI SRL
Eng. Silvia Foini (until may 2022)

Technical Supervision of Plant Systems:
Eng. Fabio Zenocchini (Sigma Project Engineering S.R.L.)

Construction company:
Sabino Dicataldo

Design of the Stage machine – Stagecraft:
Eng. Giorgio Molinari

Final Acoustic Design:
Eng. Emanuele Morlini

Stage machine (rigging grid, flyng bar, lan of A.V.L. networks power connection):
Molpass srl

Responsible for Mobile Furniture Design:
Arch. Alice Dodesini (DODiCI Architettura)

Graphics:
Glifo soc. coop.

Photo:
©Federico Covre

Project drawings

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Longitudinal section

Elevations

Detail of the facade with prefabricated concrete construction system

Detail of the facade at the opening

Related project

Category: Cultural