Ferrari Goes Green With a Geothermal-Powered Museum in Modena, Italy

The new Ferrari Museum located in Modena, Italy puts a contemporary twist on a legend. Working in collaboration, <a href="http://www.future-systems.com/">Future Systems</a> and <a href="http://www.shiro-studio.com/"> Shiro Studio</a> designed a museum for the motor racing legend and entrepreneur <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzo_Ferrari">Enzo Ferrari</a>. The sleek new electric yellow museum is a sustainable construction boasting geothermal power and a partial bermed construction, but it remains true to its roots maintaining an early nineteenth century house on site where Enzo was born and raised. Striking and modern, the new museum debuts as a gesture as <a href="http://inhabitat.com/transportation-tuesday-ferrari-hybrid-by-2015/">flashy and bold</a> as its cars.

The exhibition space is an expansive white room with a very <a href="http://inhabitat.com/modern-corum-residence-rises-out-of-the-bucolic-iowa-countryside/"> modern</a> and light feel to the space.

The walls and floor transition smoothly into one another and are perceived by the human eye as a continuous surface. The curves in the building reference the curves of cars, which are showcased all throughout the interior.

The loud and bright yellow exterior clash with the soothing, and calm interior; much like a body of a Ferrari car, the exterior is sporty and shows off, while the interior is more function based.

The ceiling of the museum is made of translucent materials, allowing the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/an-inhabitat-writer-shares-her-experience-building-her-own-sustainable-yurt-in-the-woods/"> skylight</a>s to diffuse soft and natural light within.

During the summer months, thermo-sensors activate in the windows on façade and roof to allow for cool air to circulate, increase energy efficiency and decrease energy use. Over 50% of the main exhibition building is set below ground level.

Geothermal energy is used to heat and cool the spaces, making this the first museum building in Italy to use <a href="http://inhabitat.com/glaxosmithklines-admin-building-is-an-innovative-geothermal-office-in-quebec/"> geothermal</a> energy.

The building also hosts photovoltaic technology and water <a href="http://inhabitat.com/16-year-old-egyptian-scientist-finds-way-to-turn-plastic-waste-into-78-million-of-biofuel/"> recycling</a> systems.

Unfortunately, the President of Ferrari, Luca di Montezemelohas, stated that he does not believe in <a href="http://inhabitat.com/shenzhen-china-launches-the-worlds-largest-electric-vehicle-fleet/"> electric vehicles, </a> although they have confirmed the released an electric hybrid vehicle.

Ferrari is attempting to escalate their green efforts which can be seen in the Enzo Ferrari museum and in the tree-filled <a href="http://blog.roadandtrack.com/a-day-trip-to-ferrari/">Maranello </a> Italy Ferrari factory.

A birds eye view of the museum.