The Frigorifero of Friuli: characteristics and reuse possibilities

The Frigorifero of Friuli was built in Udine in 1921 and remained in operation until 1972. Currently abandoned, in recent years has been the subject of several proposals for its reuse. The building is a significant example of cold storage plant of the early decades of the twentieth century, in which were used constructive and plant engineering solutions specifically designed to meet the functional requirements of that type of building, such as reinforced concrete structures and insulation in cork slabs. Its cultural values as an industrial archaeology derive from the architectural and constructive characteristics and from the close relationship between technology and architecture. Despite the loss of the large compressors of ammonia, the building still retains most of the construction elements and of the plants. Structures appear in general in a good state of conservation. Degradation phenomena are mainly due to the lack of maintenance of the last decades and the infiltration of humidity from the roofs. A project drawn up by a working group of the University of Udine proposed to use the site of the as the Museum of natural history and science of Friuli, which instead found its place in the former municipal slaughterhouse adjacent to the Frigorifero itself. The need for large additional spaces for the conservation of the naturalistic archives and for laboratories now makes it possible to reuse the building for these functions, which would be perfectly compatible with the characteristics of the building and would not involve invasive interventions. The Frigorifero could thus become the great naturalistic archive of the region, open to the visit and fully preserving its value as an industrial archaeology.