Year: 2007
Commissioned by: Milan Polytechnic
Teknoarch services: Executive designs
Location: Milan
Client: Milan Polytechnic
Surface area: 10,500 mq
Contract value: € 15,000,000REPORT

The area in question is located in the Villapizzone zone, at the outskirts of the city, near the tracks of the Ferrovie Nord railways. The project is part of a larger plan to convert the areas bordering the city of Milan, which in the northeastern section was initially applied through the upgrading and recovery of abandoned industrial complexes. The contract called for a structure with very low maintenance costs. The design was therefore driven by two concrete objectives: mini apartments equipped with kitchens and bathrooms to reduce the amount of personnel required for maintenance and an energy-efficient structure. The university residence complex is divided into three apartment buildings, connected by a on-floor base that houses the shared functions. The three apartment blocks have a square base of twenty-one meters per side and differ in type, height and exterior surfacing. The Alto is a ten-story tower with technical systems on the roof. The exterior surfacing is in fiber-cement. The Basso is a four story residence with walkways, built over the entrance lobby, whose exterior surfacing is in wood. The Medio is a five story apartment block with technical systems on the roof, whose ground floor includes services. The exterior surfacing is in metal and polycarbonate. The base is a rectangular block interrupted in the middle by a courtyard. Three types of buildings that have characterized the history of urban Milan: houses with exterior walkways, high-rise towers and low-rise apartment blocks. These differences make the entire complex a welcoming place, a place that favors socialization, as is intended.