- HISTORY OF THE FRIULI REFRIGERATOR

Udine, March 1922: the Friuli Refrigerator opens in an area marginal to the city center, following a trend widespread throughout Italy. 
Two years later, the Macello plant approaches.
 
An industrial plant, now a cultural asset linked as evidence of industrial archeology, in which functional construction solutions were used: a reinforced concrete and brick structure with cork slabs in isolation. The cooling technology was based on the direct evaporation of ammonia.

Historical view of the interior of the Frigorifero del Friuli
Historical view of the interior of the Friuli Refrigerator
Historical external view of the south side of the Friuli Refrigerator
Historical view of the entrance buildings of the municipal slaughterhouse
Historical view of the municipal slaughterhouse from the Friuli Refrigerator
Historical view of the municipal slaughterhouse complex and the surrounding wall

- HISTORY OF THE MUNICIPAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE

The complex was built in one year to a design by Ettore Gilberti (1876-1935).
It consisted of several buildings (such as management, offices, slaughterhouse in absentia, stables, slaughterhouses, sheds of presentation and shelter wagons) connected by avenues and arranged on an area of 25,000 m². 
 
Later the connection between this area and the railway was also arranged. 
Subjected to a constraint for the particular historical and artistic interest in 1991, the complex of the Refrigerator of Friuli and the Slaughterhouse become the object of design for their recovery with various purposes.
In 2015 the former Macello became home to the Friulian Museum of Natural History.

- ETTORE GILBERTI

The project for the construction of the municipal slaughterhouse was entrusted to Ettore Gilberti (1876-1935), udinese, graduated from Politecnico di Milano under the guidance of Camillo Boito.

Between 1922 and 1935 he also received prestigious commissions in Udine, not only the design of the Macello Comunale, but also Palazzo Angeli in Via Mercatovecchio, Palazzo Vuga, Palazzo del Cinema Odeon and the Parco della Rimembranza.

Internal view of the main building of the museum after architectural restoration

- THE ARCHITECTURAL RECOVERY OF THE BUILDING

The architectural recovery of part of the buildings of the former Macello, now used as offices, specialized library, Archive 'Ardito Desio' and Deposit of Palethnology and Geo-paleontology of the Friulian Museum of Natural History, was also possible

thanks to the Interreg Central Europe projects ‘CEC5’ and Alpine Space ‘ALPGrids’ that have aimed at energy efficiency of buildings through:
- photovoltaic systems
- stained glass windows that use natural light
- condensing boiler
- high efficiency lighting system with low consumption lighting fixtures. 

The buildings of the Museum, together with three other municipal buildings, constitute a local energy community: that is, they self-produce and consume collective renewable energy, in order to acquire energy autonomy and in case of surplus transfer it to others.

- THE DESIGN OF THE NEW MUSEUM

The need to use distinct and separate buildings, even if connected by a corridor, has been an interesting challenge for the setting up of the Museum in the industrial area of the former Slaughterhouse.
The first path designed for its construction in the building now under renovation, is dedicated to the knowledge of the habitats in the Region and biodiversity.
The second exhibition – for the moment still in the design phase
- will deal with the evolution of life from the origin of the Earth to today and the role of Man in Nature, from the first environmental transformations brought by Homo sapiens to the Anthropocene.
Preliminary sketch of an exhibit for the new exhibition halls of the museum

Via Cecilia Gradenigo Sabbadini
22-32, 33100 Udine
How to reach the museum

0432 1273211
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