In Milan’s Ripamonti area, the transformation of the former Consorzio Agrario di Milano (Agricultural Consortium of Milan) has given a new lease of life to this 1940s industrial landmark. The adaptive reuse project by Milan-based Park is redefining the conventional approach to student housing. Park has worked with the building's rich historical context to craft an architectural dialogue between past and present. The studio has created a space for over 700 students, where Milan’s industrial heritage serves as the backdrop for innovative ways of living and learning.

Celebrating contrasts

The architectural design of Consorzio Agrario Aparto Ripamonti celebrates contrasts. The original 1940s building retains its robust industrial presence, characterised by grey plaster and the addition of a sandstone base. A new storey has been added to the structure — clad in light grey aluminium, it appears to float above the historic facade. Park has also added a new extension with its own distinct identity, creating a harmonious counterpoint through a rhythmic play of glass and metal. The regular succession of horizontal and vertical prefabricated fibre cement elements highlights the modularity of the design. By mirroring the division of the indoor spaces, this solution emphasises the stylistic break with the main building.

Between the two volumes, a new central courtyard provides an outdoor living space for the student community. Dissolving boundaries between study and leisure, the courtyard offers green areas for relaxation alongside spaces for a variety of sports and socialising. Park’s intention was to create a place where students could move with ease between focused study and spontaneous connection.

Adaptive reuse

The project is a considered adaptive reuse of Milan's former Agricultural Consortium building. Originally designed as a warehouse for agricultural products, the structure comprises various typological characteristics that are inconsistent with the more conventional layout of student housing. The building’s original design included high ceilings, oversized columns spaced irregularly, and non-standard window dimensions, all of which made it difficult to divide the space into conventional rooms. Park’s approach entailed a comprehensive re-evaluation of each component, adapting the spatial typology in response to the existing structural and architectural constraints.

Architectural programme

In the basement of the existing building, student residents have access to a fully-equipped gym, gaming area, cinema, music room, and large multipurpose space. The ground floor provides flexible areas for study, meetings, and conversation. A range of furnishings in wood and bold colours bring warmth to the industrial setting, creating intimate spaces within the larger whole.

In the building’s residential areas, Park has cleverly turned architectural constraints into opportunities. The living spaces, a mix of single rooms and duplex studios, balance private retreat with community connection. Clusters of apartments offer a particularly fresh solution: they create small communities where 8 to 12 students share living spaces while still maintaining their personal domains.

Study rooms and communal terraces on the upper floors offer views across Milan. On the fourth floor of the new extension, a basketball court provides an unexpected highlight.

Michele Rossi, Founding Partner of Park, reflects on the project: “[Consorzio Agrario Aparto Ripamonti] represents more than just student housing. It’s about creating a place where Milan’s industrial heritage becomes a backdrop for new ways of living and learning, where historical memory and contemporary life engage in constant dialogue.”