Croce Bianca Brescia is a long-standing non-profit volunteer rescue organization in Brescia, providing emergency ambulance dispatch, medical transport, and community support. milanesi|paiusco, in collaboration with ISINNOVA, took part in the design competition for its new headquarters and advanced to the final review stage. The project is not only a functional renewal of a building, but a reconsideration of the “prototype of the urban emergency system.”
A System Beyond the Building
The project is located on the edge of Brescia, Italy, a city strongly influenced by industrial pollution and heavy traffic. The existing headquarters shows problems of circulation fragmentation, unclear functional zoning, and aging conditions. m|p aims to establish a spatial system that is sustainable and easily replicable, applicable to other Croce Bianca stations, and offering a reference for long-term public service infrastructure.
Sustainability, Modularity, Cure for the City
The proposal integrates sustainability, modularity, and material strategy within one framework. Environmental conditions within a 3-kilometre radius are analyzed and translated into design inputs.
More green areas are introduced into the site; courtyards and enclosed layouts improve local microclimates; construction waste and local industrial by-products are reused to reduce overall environmental impact.
The BRIX system is based on a 4.8m × 4.8m standardized module, forming the basic unit. Through combination, it generates spatial types at different scales. The system improves construction efficiency, reduces material waste, and allows phased renewal and expansion while the emergency dispatch system remains in operation.
Spatial Order Inspired by White Cross
“White Cross” is the long-standing identity symbol of Croce Bianca Brescia, representing rescue, responsibility, and trust. In this project, it is translated into a spatial logic.
Four volumes are arranged around a central void, forming a cross-shaped birch courtyard. Emergency flows, pedestrian circulation, and vehicle access are reorganized into separate paths to reduce interference and improve clarity. The cross geometry further extends into structural nodes and roof skylights.
A Pause Within the Central Landscape
The birch courtyard is one of the few spaces within the high-intensity emergency system where a pause becomes possible. The birch canopy filters direct sunlight, while white bark and pale gravel maintain a bright atmosphere. Mirrored stainless-steel memorial benches are engraved with the names of donors—those who continuously support the operation of Croce Bianca Brescia.
