Casa Siemens is the new office building of 15,500 square meters that the German multinational wanted in Via Vipiteno in Milan, with the aim of creating its headquarters in this area of the city within an area of 86,000 m. It houses the management and the offices that were previously based in Bicocca.
The project as a whole and within the broader masterplan project, completely redesigns the area by organizing the volumes and the green according to a simple and linear principle, able to relate better with both the existing fabric and the projects in place around the intervention area. The “Construction Excellence Office Building” design guidelines dictated by the company were decisive in every phase of the project definition: the Barreca & La Varra studio contributed to their interpretation and declination, especially as regards the composition of the façade and the layout of the windows, with particular attention to the corner theme. The building consists of a single “E” shaped body arranged around two courtyards paved and enriched with plant elements, on which the collective services such as the auditorium, bar and restaurant overlook the ground floor. The remaining three floors house the open space offices, private offices and meeting rooms, from which it is possible to access the auditorium and canteen garden covers.
In “Siemens House” the entrance is highlighted by a setback of the ground floor, so as to create a protected external place, and the lobby manages all the flows and all the internal paths with spaces dedicated to relaxation, information and reception.
In front of the entrance to the building is one of the four sculptures designed by Daniel Libeskind that at the Milan Expo2015 marked the crossing between Cardo and Decumano, commissioned by Siemens.
The project is efficient, since it minimizes the impact on the site by concentrating the construction to the maximum, takes advantage of the natural orientation of the site, incorporates active and passive energy-saving systems and has a simple structure that allows flexibility in the use of space over time.
The facade was designed specifically for the control of summer solar radiation and winter dispersion. In particular, it is a system of alternately opaque (parapet and veil) and transparent (ribbon windows) horizontal bands: the ground floor alternates, on all the facades, blind panels in dark gray and transparent stoneware, aimed at generating a dialogue of the interior spaces with the surrounding open spaces intended for parking and greenery, and in general to reduce the amount of glass surfaces.
On the upper floors the façade is ventilated, in lighter gray alucobond combined with parts in enamelled glass that embellish the building also by virtue of the play of reflections it puts into play. In some places, and generally near the corners of the building, the ribbon window widens and turns into a floor-to-ceiling window. All windows are equipped with a motorized lamellar curtain system connected to a solar radiation detection system that regulates the opening to protect the building.
Team:
Architect: Barreca & La Varra
Masterplan, preliminary project, final, executive, art direction: BLV
BLV team:
Chiara Capponi, Claudio Barborini (project leaders)
Luigi Tambuscio, Bruno Carniello (collaborators)
Customer: Siemens S.p.A. Real Estate
General contractor: Percassi company
Project structures, DL: Milan Ingegneria Srl
Plant project: united consulting Srl
LEED certification: Deerns Italia
Fire prevention: studiogamma srl
Green design: AG&P greenscape
Interior design, space planning: DEGW
Signage, physical branding: FUD
Photography: Carola Merello
Material Used:
1. Cotto d’Este: Internal flooring, external coatings, sidewalks
2. Sermeca: Facades
3. Milani: Electrical plants
4. Gianni Benvenuto: Mechanical plants
5. Mirage: Internal coatings
6. Elettromeccanica Galli: Eletrical plants
7. Pedrali: Standard furniture
