Green dreams in Turin: The progressive architecture behind Green Pea’s sustainability-focused shopping experience
- Melanie Quesada
- Aug 16
- 5 min read
Green Pea is a green retail park, inaugurated in 2020, designed by architects Cristiana Catino and Carlo Grometto, from the Turin-based architecture studio ACC Naturale Architettura, located in Lingotto, a neighborhood in the south of Turin. Historically, this area was tied to the industrial identity of the city, due to the presence of the FIAT Lingotto factory, which gave the neighborhood its name.
Over time, Lingotto has gone through a profound transformation. What was once a working-class, industrial district began to change after the factory closed in the 1980s. Old industrial buildings were repurposed into new and diverse uses: commercial areas, cultural centers, office spaces, and university facilities. In the 2000s, this shift continued with the rehabilitation of public spaces, parks, and plazas, all aimed at improving urban quality and strengthening community life.
Who's behind the project?
The project was developed by the Green Pea Company, a dedicated venture founded by Oscar Farinetti together with his son Francesco Farinetti, Paolo Garrone, and Davide Pinto. Farinetti also created Eataly, a global chain of food markets that started in Turin. Eataly is located nearby Green Pea in the Lingotto district, making the two projects part of the same urban revitalization effort. This synergy contributes to the creation of a sustainable commercial hub that blends education, and environmental consciousness.
Beyond retail
The building has a total surface area of 15,000 square meters, spread over five floors, with 66 shops, a museum, three restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa, and even a club dedicated to “Creative Laziness.” Its programming reflects a holistic lifestyle approach, where sustainability and wellbeing are central themes.
Photo courtesy of: Green Pea
A skin that breathes
Its exterior envelope features a double skin system: a layer of lamellas made from spruce wood recovered from forests damaged by the Vaia storm in 2018, mounted on a recyclable steel structure. These wooden slats act as brise soleil, protecting from the sun and allowing for natural ventilation.
The building’s main structure is made of steel, assembled completely dry using bolted joints, making it easy to disassemble and recycle at the end of its life cycle. The biophilic design is expressed through green terraces with large trees and vegetation integrated into the façades, creating a space that promotes a connection with nature.This architectural language emphasizes adaptability, circularity, and ecological harmony.
Thoughtful by design
From an energy perspective, Green Pea integrates a combination of geothermal systems, photovoltaic and solar panels, mini wind turbines, and even piezoelectric floors that capture kinetic energy from visitors' footsteps. These systems not only reduce carbon emissions but also invite users to participate in the energy loop, transforming passive use into active contribution.
Strategies of the Green Pea Building:
Geothermal Energy: The building uses a geothermal system that harnesses the stable temperatures underground to heat and cool the interiors efficiently. By circulating water through pipes below the surface, the system exchanges heat with the earth, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering emissions.
Next-Generation Photovoltaic Panels: Photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof and sun-exposed façades to capture solar energy and convert it into electricity. These state-of-the-art panels contribute to the building’s self-sufficiency by generating a substantial portion of its power needs.
Solar Thermal Panels: Separate from the photovoltaic system, solar thermal panels absorb sunlight to heat water, which is stored and used for various functions such as bathrooms, kitchens, and heating systems. This reduces the building’s need for conventional hot water sources.
Mini Wind Turbines: Compact wind turbines placed near the building’s upper levels generate additional renewable energy. Manufactured by Enessere, these devices convert wind into electricity and serve both a functional and symbolic role in the overall design.
Piezoelectric Floors at Entrances: At the main entrances, the flooring is equipped with piezoelectric technology that transforms the pressure from visitors’ footsteps into small amounts of electricity, showcasing an innovative way of engaging users in energy generation.
Smart Flowers: These are solar-powered kinetic sculptures placed in outdoor landscaped areas. Designed to mimic natural sun-tracking behavior, they rotate to follow sunlight and symbolize the fusion of nature and technology, making sustainability visible and engaging.
Ultra-Fast Chargers: Electric vehicle chargers are available in the parking areas, supporting the use of clean mobility. These high-speed stations encourage visitors to use electric cars by offering convenient access to charging infrastructure.
Next-Generation LED Lighting: The building is illuminated with advanced LED lighting systems that consume minimal energy. These lights are used throughout the interior and exterior and are powered mostly by renewable sources, contributing to the overall energy efficiency of the structure.
Rainwater Harvesting: Rainwater is collected from the building’s green roofs and terraces, filtered, and stored in an underground tank. It is reused for irrigation and non-potable water systems, helping to conserve fresh water and reduce demand on municipal supplies.
Recognized for performance
In recognition of its performance, the building has been officially classified as a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB), is a designation given to structures that consume very little energy thanks to high efficiency and the use of renewable sources, often balancing the energy they use with what they generate.
The concept of NZEB comes from the European Union’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which mandates that all new buildings in Europe must meet NZEB standards by 2020 (for public buildings) and shortly thereafter for all new constructions. The main goal is to ensure buildings have very high energy performance, with most energy demand covered by renewable sources produced on-site or nearby.
In Italy, regional protocols support these sustainability goals, such as the ITACA Protocol, developed by the Istituto per l’Innovazione e Trasparenza degli Appalti e la Compatibilità Ambientale (ITACA), which evaluates buildings based on environmental impact, energy performance, and resource efficiency. The protocol is adapted to Italian regulations and regional needs.
Specifically, in the Piedmont Region, where Green Pea is located, the ITACA 2012 Protocol is used for assessing commercial buildings. Green Pea earned a score of 3.2, positioning it as a high-performance sustainable building under this rigorous framework.
A blueprint for the future
Green Pea is an ambitious project. Its architecture, materials, and storytelling make it a symbol of urban change, aligned with the environmental challenges of our time. Even if its large-scale impact is still developing and its message mainly reaches a specific audience, Green Pea fulfills a vital role as a demonstrative space. It inspires, educates, and raises new questions about the role of sustainability in our everyday lives. By merging commerce with consciousness, it invites us to rethink our habits, our spaces, and our future.
Photo courtesy of: Green Pea
Next in focus
Beyond architecture, Green Pea champions sustainable consumption by offering eco-conscious brands. A dedicated home and furniture department, complete with a consultation service, supports greener living. The Greener Space will explore this in more detail in an upcoming article.
References:
Green Pea Official Website: https://www.greenpea.com/en/building/
Green Pea Retail ParkArea Eataly Lingotto, Torino: https://accnaturalearchitettura.it/green-pea-retail-park
Nearly-zero energy and zero-emission buildings: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-buildings/nearly-zero-energy-and-zero-emission-buildings_en?prefLang=es
Green Pea: la parola ai progettisti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNx9pchOQrg
Oscar Farinetti - The architecture of food
Interview with Oscar Farinetti, founder of Eataly: https://www.fuorisalone.it/en/tv/video/173/oscar-farinetti-the-architecture-of-food
Secondo natura. Green Pea, il primo Green Retail Park sostenibile.: https://www.salonemilano.it/it/articoli/secondo-natura-green-pea-il-primo-green-retail-park-sostenibile
Green Pea is looking for sustainability in every detail, from design to fashion: https://designwanted.com/green-pea-francesco-farinetti/
Renewable energy and environmental sustainability, Enessere installs a mini wind generator at Green Pea in Turin: https://www.enessere.com/en/mini-wind-turbine-enessere-at-green-pea/#:~:text=Green%20Pea%2C%20world's%20first%20Green,they're%20also%20a%20pleasure.
The first Green Retail Park in the world based on the idea of respect for the environment: Green Pea: https://www.theplan.it/award-2021-Retail/the-first-green-retail-park-in-the-world-based-on-the-idea-of-respect-for-the-environment-green-pea-acc-naturale-architettura-negozio-blu-architetti-associati
