Snøhetta and Italian architecture practice Park introduces urban redevelopment project in the heart of Milan

The two studios have transformed the iconic 1960s office block Pirelli 35 into a dynamic, accessible, and eco-conscious urban landmark that improves public access and redefines its role in Milan's cityscape.

Snøhetta has joined forces with Milan-based practice Park to transform Pirelli 35, a 1960s office block in the heart of the Porta Nuova district in Milan, into a dynamic, accessible, and environmentally sustainable urban landmark. The project, commissioned by real estate developer Coima, redefines the relationship between architecture, landscape, and public space, creating a new focal point for urban regeneration.

Condé Nast and Adidas are among the tenants who will occupy the office levels, transforming the former Telecom Italia headquarters into a vibrant creative hub for the sports and fashion giant and publications like Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, WIRED, GQ, and AD.

Embracing adaptive reuse

Pirelli 35 was designed by architect Melchiorre Bega and completed in 1964 as part of the ambitious, though ultimately unrealized, Centro Direzionale di Milano project. The complex has since played a key role in Italy's telecommunications history.

The redevelopment preserves the majority of the original structure, embracing the principles of adaptive reuse while aligning with contemporary office design. The building's architectural and structural qualities have been enhanced through a transformation of the facades and the addition of two new floors.

A defining feature of the project is the removal of a central wing with the introduction of a suspended volume, that connects the existing building with the new addition on Via Bordoni, hovering over a generous 3000 m2 open urban space that reconnects previously fragmented parts of the context.

“We are delighted with the forward-leaning possibilities of creating a building that is given back to the public of Milan. This is very much in accordance with how Snøhetta has been thinking since its very inception, understanding that desegregation of cities, making buildings indoors accessible for the larger public, creating public ownership of these buildings, and increasing the accessibility for the public. Pirelli 35 is a good example of how regenerative architecture should look in European cities such as Milan,” says Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Founding Partner of Snøhetta.

Two-way dialogue

This new courtyard, paved with an undulating stone carpet, creates a direct and fluid connection between Milan's Central Station and BAM, the contemporary garden in Porta Nuova. Large floor-to-ceiling openings frame this space, enhancing permeability and strengthening the dialogue between the building's interior and the urban realm.

The façade of the new building facing Via Bordoni, including the bridge element, is clad in aluminium with a terracotta textured finish that echoes the scale and character of the surrounding residential area. In contrast, the existing structure has been re-clad with a concrete-effect finish that enhances an elegant monumentality in the context of Porta Nuova, striking a balance between the different urban sides of the project.

“This building presents a captivating multiplicity of facets, and as you walk around the perimeter and through the courtyard you feel the sensation of experiencing several different buildings simultaneously. A key factor behind this architectural dialogue is the study behind each facade, crafted to respond to the unique characteristics of its surrounding environment. What emerges is not an imposing monument demanding attention, but rather a thoughtful composition that weaves itself into the existing urban fabric with quiet and elegant confidence. The building breathes with its context rather than competing against it, creating a dialogue between old and new that enriches the neighbourhood's architectural narrative,” says Tommaso Maserati, Snøhetta Architect and Project Lead

The building is arranged over three levels: the ground level is defined by a series of porous glass volumes, increasing access throughout the site. Above them, the office floors form the main body of the building, featured by essential, functional, and elegant interior design. The penthouse on the 10th floor hovers over the 9th-floor terrace, creating a unique meeting space with a spectacular view of the city.

With its mix of workspaces, public areas, and a vibrant rooftop, the project fosters around-the-clock activity in one of the city's most evolving districts.

Sustainable transformation

By preserving and reusing most of the original structure, the project significantly reduces embodied carbon emissions compared to a full rebuild. The commitment to sustainable solutions is further reinforced through the use of low-emission and recycled materials, as well as the integration of an extensive photovoltaic system that powers a water-to-water heat pump for thermal energy generation.

By shifting the façade behind the existing double-column structure, the design also reduces solar heat gain, improving environmental performance without compromising transparency or daylighting.

Initially presenting two distinct yet complementary proposals for the international design competition, Park and Snøhetta were invited by Coima to merge their expertise into a unified project. The collaboration demonstrates how different approaches to architectural quality and sustainability can lead to a mutually enriching collaboration and has materialized in Snøhetta's first completed project in Italy.

“This transformation is an opportunity to demonstrate how architecture can bridge past and future, memory and innovation. By working within the existing footprint, we have created something entirely new—an urban space that belongs to the city,” says Michele Rossi, Founding Partner of Park.