Fiat’s Lingotto factory in Turin with its Rooftop Banked Track!

Though not necessarily a moto-centric post, one that I believe you will find interesting nevertheless.

1923 marked the completion of the Lingotto Fiat Factory in Turin, Italy. Though not as large as the Ford’s River Rouge Factory Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, it was the first of its kind to use a spiral five story design complete with a roof top test track.

The five story building, designed by engineer Giacomo Mattè-Trucco, featured a loop rooftop test track with two banked turns. The turns were constructed from an intricate series of concrete ribs in a construction technique that had not frequently been used prior to Lingotto’s construction. Placing the track on top of the factory was indeed an artistic yet practical use of space especially given the nature of the spiral assembly line.

As each Fiat was constructed it would travel story to story with a sequential design structure. What began on the bottom floor as raw material would progress to a fully running vehicle by the time it had spiraled its way to the top of the building. There it would travel the banked track quality checking that each floor’s job was to perfection. The vehicle then would would return to ground level through one of the two spiral access ramps at either end of the test track.

The factory closed its doors in 1982, however has new been transformed into a shopping mall, concert hall, theater, convention center, apartments, shops and a gallery that displays of some of the art collection of the former Fiat chairman, Giovanni Agnelli, as well as an upscale hotel. Le Méridien The complex also includes a skating rink built for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

The top floor track is still used as a meeting space for companies and car clubs, as well as a tourist attraction. Though it’s nice to see the integrity of the building’s design is being protected, it’s a bit sad to think the track is not properly used, especially give the gloriously dramatic setting.

I would loved to have seen it in the heyday!

Red Bull Lingotto-Riding Vespas in the Lingotto Fiat Factory 2011