Fiat's Iconic Rooftop Test Track 🇮🇹
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What if I told you the largest hanging garden in Europe was actually a race track?
Fiat’s enigmatic rooftop test track, La Pista 500, is an Italian design icon and relic. The complex, formally known as Lingotto, was first conceived in 1916 and officially inaugurated in 1923. Located in Turin, Italy, rapidly growing Fiat needed a multi-purpose home base for design, production and testing.
Up and coming architect, Giacomo Matte-Trucco, was commissioned to build a 5-floor factory, complete with a 1.5km long (4.2 acre) test track on the roof. G A Porcheddu led construction efforts for what would become the largest car factory in the world. The design was cutting-edge and progressive, receiving positive reviews from critics and Turin residents. Le Corbusier himself was a fan, referring to the building as “one of the most impressive sights in the industry,” and “a guideline for town planning.”
Lingotto was a success, going on to produce some 80 different car models within its walls. However, by the mid-1970s it had a become obsolete, with production shifting to more modern facilities, namely Fiat’s Mirafiori factory. Lingotto formally closed in 1982 and quickly became a hot-button topic for Turin residents. After a public architectural competition, Renzo Piano was selected to lead revitalization efforts. The relic space gained a new lease on life - reimagined as a multi-purpose building with shopping, arcades, office space, a hotel and yes, a giant hanging garden. The space has been featured extensively across film and pop culture, from the Italian Job to Top Gear (and countless car commercials). Heading to Italy? You can visit the space today for €10 euros. You might even be able to test-drive the new electric Fiat 500 there as part of a new marketing initiative from the Italian manufacturer. 🏁
Bonus Pic:
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