THE RESIDENCES

For Daniel Libeskind the design of the Residences reflects the changing composition of an historic Milanese neighborhood. Using a classical courtyard configuration and naturalistic materials he remains faithful to the character of the surrounding area, while the asymmetrical layering of the façade signals a contemporary transformation of this language.

The Residences, ranging from villas to apartment blocks, are carefully sited on the perimeter of the site at a scale that resonates within the existing context. The roof-tops slowly rise from the south east along Via Spinola with low-rise seven-story buildings that climb northwest to a 14-story height along Via Berengario.

This flexible arrangement not only maximizes daylight, fresh air and views of green space, but also gives each unit a distinct character from one to the next. Clad in a finely textured, light grey tile developed for the project by the Italian company Casalgrande Padana, the facades of each building create an undulating rhythm of prominences and recessions wrapped with ribbons of asymmetrical glass and tile balconies that are intersected by brise soleils in a new highly-sustainable manufactured wood.

Twenty unique double-height penthouses, conceived as villas, with generous terraces, luxury finishes and incredible views of the city top-off each of the buildings. Each of these “sky villas” have a completely unique geometry that becomes a signature design element and integrates the large-scale structures into the surrounding urban fabric.

The five-building complex gently curves around an open courtyard with interwoven pedestrian paths that connect to the street, the park, and the underground parking structure. Conceived as an outdoor living room for residents to gather and relax, the courtyard’s tranquility is preserved by routing vehicular traffic on a loop at the outer edge of the site, which allows for direct access to the double height lobbies and leads to the private parking compartments. The lobbies connect the street, lower garden, and upper garden to the central courtyard.

The Residences are certified by the Italian Building Energy Consumption (A+ Class – CENED). Sustainable features include, but are not limited to, thermally regulated radiant ceilings, energy efficient programmable heating and cooling systems, high-tech insulation, sustainable tiles, composite wood brise soleils, and photo-voltaic-cells on the roof to generate and store electrical energy.

The first five-buildings of phase one are complete and the second phase of three additional buildings, that will accommodate 125 units, is scheduled to be completed by 2017.