Place / Milan – Italy
Year / 2015 – 2016
Type / Cultural multifunctional facilities
Status / In progress

A new hotspot for the entire city of Milan has been set along the Martesana canal, an historical water route that flows from the outside fields into the city centre. In an old farmhouse three young entrepreneurs gave birth to an unconventional project where commercial activities are integrated with social and artistic programs. LaboratorioPermanente has been invited to renovate the old farmhouse, adding new volumes around the court. The composition of the different buildings has been underlined by the use of different materials, such as concrete, timber and metal. The variety in materials corresponds with the richness of the program which includes both an indoor and outdoor bar and restaurant, a court for barbecuing and relaxing, performance and workshop areas, an art gallery and sport activities. The indoor and outdoor spaces are integrated in a continuous space by the use of sliding windows, covered outside spaces and pergolas and a strong material consistency between the inside and the outside.

The architecture interprets and reinvents the aesthetic of self-building by composing the new volumes into an alteration and overlapping of different materials and typologies.From the outside, the existing walls lose their plastered skins, revealing once again their old brick patterns, a characteristic feature of the old farms and warehouses along the canal. On top, the architectural skyline is formed by the newly added volumes in the courtyard. Like three different characters they subtly show their heads above the enclosing wall.

Credits:
Architects: Nicola Russi, Angelica Sylos Labini
Project leader: Luca De Stasio,
With: Pietro Ferrario, Mario Ventilato,
Alessandro Gloria, Francesca Lina Pincella.
Alberto Spinella, Massimo Tenan,

Consultants:
Structural Engineer: Eng. Tommaso Papini  [Milan – Italy]
MEP: Angioletti.Ingegneria [Milan – Italy]