In a new arrangement that completes the beauty of the existing space, the Ninfee’s Fountain and with it the Fontana delle Ninfe Square in Acqui Terme, in the province of Alessandria, returned to shine.
The restoration work, completed this summer, is signed by Marco Ciarlo Associate Firm of Altare (SV), which in 2021 had been responsible for the redevelopment work of the spaces next to the Ninfee’s Fountain, which crosses Corso Viganò with pools and water feature up to arrive to the Rotary.
The project required IPM Italia involvement to provide the best cladding and flooring solutions.
The objective of the intervention, desired by the Municipal Administration of the town, was the restoration of the space and the existing structures, maintaining the two monumental elements in dialogue and returning homogeneity of styles and forms to the complex, as well as its role as an urban meeting space.
The square has a new spectacular look: water becomes a connecting element.
The renovate Ninfee Fountain, inaugurated in the two-thousands, based on a project of Gaspare De Fiore, a roman architect, in this moment appears with a modernize look but with the same elements of water and marble; while the restoration project of the square, which is the second phase of the plan, provides for the architectonic restyling.
Existing structures were exploited and in part restored, introducing a system of paths, seats, and illumination and bringing colorful water features of white, blue, purple, red and green back to the center of the fountain after years of disuse.
Therefore, water is used as an element of connection with the past of Acqui Terme, known for its ancient story as spa, and as a symbol of grace, entertainment and lightness.
The presence of the water required an accurate selection of the suitable coating. IPM Italia’s Systems, among the major national players in the formulation, production and installation of continuous floorings in resin for indoor and in natural grit for outdoor use in the urban, industrial, commercial and residential sectors, were chosen for all the floorings and vertical coverings. In fact, the mechanical characteristics and differentiated granulometries of the systems proposed by the company were found to be suitable for use in a humid environment, of great architectural value and perfectly responsive to design requirements.
“For the walkways and the internal passageways of the circular structure of the Square, a draining flooring able to enhance the project aesthetics with an architectural and spectacular point of view was essential. It had to be a technical solution, capable of not overheat the square during Summer, draining the water of the fountain and do not freeze in winter –Andrea Penati, CEO and Technical Director of IPM Italia, explains. After we have examined the project, we proposed IPM GeoDrena®, our natural grit system for external use, that it is perfect for the work that required technical characteristics and particular attention for the panoramic component. An architectural solution, beautiful to see, enduring and that enhances the aesthetics of each project.”
For the built-in steps structure, characterized by the presence of the water it was necessary to find a different solution that would ensure maximum uniformity to the result and the protection for the raisers.
“Based on the feedback we received, we developed in-house and formulated the new IPM GeoDrena® Wall, the latest generation system that ensure the structure an elevated protection and the raisers of the steps a comfortable performance. It is really strong, and can be used for different scope, such as enceinte or other applications”, Andrea Penati continues.
The solution to go back to living the Square are IPM GeoDrena® outdoor grit drainage and comfortable raisers IPM GeoDrena Wall
IPM GeoDrena® is a specific system for continuous outdoor flooring eco-friendly. Thanks to the variety and the combination of colors of the valuable natural grit (like marble, quartz, porphyry, coil or granite that are blended on-site with an environmentally friendly binding agent always formulated by IPM Italy with zero VOC emissions) it makes the surface comfortable and perfectly integrated in every outdoor and urban context. Technical features also make IPM GeoDrena® perfect for wet environments: it is breathable and the material of which it is made allows water to drain away (2,700 it/sqm/minute), removing the runoff and water stagnation phenomenon, avoiding the surface from being slippery and freezing in winter. The open structure allows natural air recirculation, ensuring very low heat stockpile on the surface compared to traditional outdoor coatings.
IPM GeoDrena® is a stable continuous outdoor floor, it resists chlorine, and its upkeep is simply – you can clean it with pressurized water without cleaners – it is perfect for every outdoor space, square and urban spaces, pedestrian, cycle path and driveway. IPM GeoDrena® was laid on the 160 square meters of the central hallway of the structure: the certified IPM Italia teams have ensured a perfect correspondence between specifications and result and in-time construction.
IPM GeoDrena® Wall, is used for the raisers, is a waterproof Thixotropic gel that, after an accurate preparation of the surface to be covered, is laid out and simultaneously dusted with inert, generally not exceeding 2.5-3 mm and smoothed or left natural.
The polyurethane transparent coat, in the following 24 hours, ensures the surface an additional
protection. Marco Ciarlo, the completely satisfied architect of the works, says: “We are really glad to have once again involved IPM Italia, which has been able to respond with efficiency to the technical specifications, in the time agreed both in terms of scheduling and adherence to the architectural design, ensuring an excellent final output. Thanks to the inert appropriate choice and the carefully selected components, the outcome has a very pleasant aesthetic effect in reference to the remaining parts made of Carrara marble block. Every aspect was well finished and carried on according to expectation, the reason why we are really satisfied.”
The Fontana delle Ninfe Square returned to his beauty, the monumental complex of Acqui Terme returns to be a meeting and socializing urban space for the citizen both for those who pass through Acqui Terme for a limited time in their life, and also for all the inhabitants who live in the local reality every day.