DEMO BUILDINGS
As part of the LIFE SUPERHERO project, two public residential buildings owned by the Municipality of Reggio Emilia, located at Via Maramotti 23 and 25, have been selected as demonstration buildings for the installation and monitoring of the innovative Herotile-Based Roof (HBR) systems.
The urban area of Reggio Emilia, located in the heart of the Po’ Valley, features a subcontinental climate characterized by cold and humid winters and hot, sultry summers with significant temperature fluctuations. As such, it is subject to climate stress and urban heat island effects.
Progression of construction phases and monitoring activities
From the current state to initial monitoring (2021-2022)
The demonstration buildings, constructed between 1981 and 1984, exhibited characteristics typical of the period, with a poorly insulated building envelope and a flat roof made of prefabricated reinforced concrete slabs. Two summer monitoring campaigns were conducted between 2021 and 2022 to analyze the thermal and energy performance of the buildings in their original condition, collecting useful data for comparing subsequent improvements.
Via Maramotti 23, Reggio Emilia
Via Maramotti 25, Reggio Emilia
Building Envelope Renovation (2023)
During 2023, the buildings underwent an energy-efficient renovation project. The facades were equipped with a thermal insulation system, and the windows were replaced with high-performance frames capable of reducing heat loss. During the summer of the same year, a new monitoring campaign was launched to evaluate the benefits achieved following these efficiency improvements.
Installation of HBR Roofs (2024)
2024 represented a key moment for the project, with the installation of new HBR roofs on the demonstration buildings. Work began with the partial removal of the existing roofs, followed by the construction of the load-bearing wooden structure, consisting of trusses and main beams. A secondary structure consisting of purlins and planking was then installed, followed by the application of a waterproof and breathable sheet to ensure the structure’s protection. After installing the strips, the Portuguese HEROTILE tiles were laid at number 23 and the Marseille tiles at number 25.
Post-Intervention Monitoring (2025)
To complete the evaluation process and measure the impact of HBR roofs, a new monitoring campaign began in 2025. The goal is to analyze the summer performance of HBR roofs, comparing the data collected with previous campaigns to quantify improvements in indoor comfort, reduced energy consumption, and increased building resilience to climate change. The results of this monitoring, available on the HU-BES (HUman-BEhaviors Monitoring Data Sharing) platform, will consolidate evidence on the benefits of HBR roofs, making these buildings a concrete benchmark for large-scale sustainable redevelopment projects.