Hines Huge Milan Project Takes Shape

One of the key developments currently under construction in the Italian city of Milan is Porta Nuova Garibaldi, a new commercial complex that's been designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects.

With 35 floors and a height of 145 metres to the roof, the building features a spire burj-like in nature that will push it to 215 metres at its tip. Within will be 25,600 square metres of offices plus 1,740 square metres of retail including numerous bars and cafes offering al fresco dining, an experience Milan would never be complete without.

The tower, and several accompanying buildings, are all arranged around a circular plaza with their curving forms partially ringing it, helping to connect the nearby Varesine and Isola tower projects in the process by providing one end of a new landscaped pedestrian boulevard. It's masterplanning that perhaps manages to look like it has escaped from a seventies science fiction movie.

The three buildings of Porta Nuova Garibaldi are also located where they are, in part so that they are close to a major rail hub only 0.8 kilometres away, something that the architects hope will encourage people to walk.

Already being built, the structure will see over 50% of the construction debris reused whilst the floor to ceiling glazing has been designed to help contribute to a 37% reduction in energy use alongside other tricks such as extracting heat from a nearby river. Having avoided depth, the slender floor-plates will further help by allowing daylight to penetrate 90% of each floor.

The project is being developed by the Italian wing of American property giant Hines, Hines Italia and set to be completed in full in time for the 2015 Milan Expo.