The Dome
THE TRACTOR FACTORY: Where the earth met the myth
Visionary Inspiration: From Detroit to Emilia
In the 1930s, Henry Ford commissioned architect Albert Kahn to design the Ford Rotunda, a majestic circular structure shaped like a truncated gear, originally conceived for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair and later rebuilt in Dearborn. The building, with its majestic circular plan, imposing central courtyard, and clean lines, became a global symbol of American automotive innovation and the second most visited monument in the United States at the time.
Three decades later, in the Emilia region of Italy during the economic boom, Ferruccio Lamborghini looked to that model of international grandeur to give a home to his corporate vision. When he designed the Pieve di Cento plant for the production of tractors and burners in 1960, Ferruccio wanted to break the monotony of traditional rectangular warehouses.
The Ford Rotunda in Dearborn, Detroit, and the Dome of Pieve di Cento share a revolutionary idea of industrial architecture: transforming the workplace and public space into a true temple of modernity, where engineering and design merge to celebrate progress.
Just like the Rotunda in Detroit, where visitors were greeted by a solemn spaciousness, the Dome of Pieve di Cento was designed to amaze and inspire. The 12 supporting pillars arranged in a circle not only played a fundamental static role, but also created an open management space, where the R&D office and Ferruccio's management team worked closely together.
Technical Details
The tool shop under the dome
Beneath the shallow vault, inspired by the Ford Rotunda, opened a wide, almost column-free space lit from above. Here stood the tool shop, the technical heart of the factory, while on the first floor of the south-west wing was Ferruccio Lamborghini's personal office.
Not only tractors
This was the heart of the Burners and Air Conditioning division, established to expand the company's operations in the residential and industrial heating and air conditioning sector. In an Italy experiencing a boom that was abandoning coal for diesel and gas, Lamborghini burners immediately stood out for their high reliability, burner/boiler efficiency, and ease of maintenance. The profits generated by this division were enormous and provided Ferruccio with the capital he needed to launch automobile production.
A department of excellence
A department of excellence that laid the foundation for the modernization of agricultural mechanization, leaving a technical and conceptual legacy that left an indelible mark on the history of Italian tractors. Long before design became a standard in the industrial sector, the Pieve di Cento R&D department worked on hood lines, instrument readability, and driver comfort in the fields. Every idea was designed on workbenches just steps from the assembly lines, field-tested, and immediately refined. The close proximity between Ferruccio's management and the technicians ensured rapid decisions and bold experiments.
The sketch of the 350GT
In these southwest wing offices, under the direct supervision of Ferruccio Lamborghini, the future of agricultural mechanization took shape. The first sketches of the legendary 1C and 2C tractors were drawn on the designers' desks: but not only that... It was here that the genesis of the 350 GTV took shape (later evolved into the famous 350 GT, the first production car from the house of the Raging Bull). Amid the roar of tractor engines and the mastery of the workers of the time, the first sketches, the chassis, and the legendary V12 engine designed by Giotto Bizzarrini found their first meeting and assembly point here.
The Restoration (2024-2025)
In 2006 most of the original plant is demolished: the Dome is the only building preserved. Between 2024 and 2025, Eurotarget, led by Stefano Chierici, promotes the rescue and complete restoration of the building, reopened to the public on May 31, 2025. On June 3, 2025, the Municipality of Pieve di Cento declares the Dome a “building of community interest”.
The new exhibition space
The project redefines the concept of exhibition space in the automotive sector, blending contemporary architecture and functionality while maintaining the original structure intact. Built on the original site, the building preserves the 1960 design while simultaneously renovating it. The entrance, featuring a visually striking yellow portal, is the new gateway to the key site of the former factory.
The new Project
Design and structure
The circular building, with its wide glazed façade, creates a constant dialogue between inside and outside, using natural light to emphasise clean lines and fine materials. The yellow portal guides visitors into a sophisticated, technological environment.
An immersive experience
The space is organised over two levels: the ground floor holds the exhibition area, where the cars are arranged in an airy, fluid setting with minimal finishes and essential, industrial-design furnishings. The central reception, with a curved concrete-effect counter and natural inserts, forms an elegant, functional focal point. The mezzanine houses the offices, while the ground floor also hosts consultation areas that offer privacy without compromising visual continuity.
Materials and lighting
The use of glass, metal and wood strikes a balance between technology and warmth, while indirect lighting and reflective surfaces enhance the sense of depth and space. The open, modular layout is designed to ensure flexibility and an immersive, engaging experience.
High-Tech Carbon Pillars
The Dome's stability relies on vertical columns designed to withstand significant inertia loads and mechanical stresses. Therefore, Carbon Scraping Technology was adopted—the columns and their interface guides integrate an advanced scraping system of carbon fiber composite blades/wedges. This results in vibration absorption: the carbon fiber dramatically reduces torsional microvibrations from the building and adjacent industrial machinery.
