CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati Unveils Kinetic Canopy Prototype for Modena's Former Hospital

A seven-meter triangular model has been installed in Piazza Sant'Agostino in Modena, Italy, previewing a kinetic roof designed by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati for the AGO Modena Fabbriche Culturali, a cultural complex under development in the former Sant'Agostino Hospital. The model, created in collaboration with artist-engineer Chuck Hoberman, features three sections that open and close, demonstrating the movement of the full-scale roof. The canopy will cover a triangular courtyard shared with the Gallerie Estensi and other cultural institutions, providing adaptable shelter for exhibitions and gatherings. In its open position, historic facades remain exposed; when closed, it offers cover while integrated photovoltaic panels generate solar energy. The design employs 'dynamic reversibility,' a conservation principle allowing future changes, and some vaulted halls will remain unfinished for flexible use. The prototype was digitally fabricated and preassembled with Articulated Artworks and Maestro Technologies. AGO's first stage is scheduled to open on December 11, 2026, with the kinetic roof as the most visible contemporary intervention in a project focused on reuse.