Porta Volta in Milan,
designed by Herzog & de Meuron
In the north of Milan, on the site of the old city walls and one of the city's former entrance gates, a project has been created that combines architectural precision with deep reflection on the history and future of the city. Swiss studio {tag:pracownie} is responsible for the transformation, and the investor and user is the Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Foundation. The Porta Volta complex is not only the new headquarters of the institution, but also an urban manifesto that redefines the relationship between public space and the fabric of the city.
General view of the Porta Volta complex
photo by Filippo Romano © Herzog & de Meuron
history written in the urban axis
The Porta Volta area is a multi-layered area, historically significant, but over the years forgotten. As late as the 16th century, the Mura Spagnole - the last of a series of defensive walls surrounding Milan - were located here. Although they physically disappeared after the bastions were demolished at the end of the 19th century, their trace can still be seen in the urban layout of the city. It was here, on Via Alessandro Volta, once a peripheral and now again a key artery, that the Feltrinelli Foundation decided to build its new headquarters.
The interior of the foundation's headquarters
photo by Filippo Romano © Herzog & de Meuron
a resurrected gateway to the city
Porta Volta's redefinition was not about reconstruction, but interpretation. Herzog & de Meuron did not overwrite history, but consciously evoked it, using the former course of the walls as the compositional line of the new urban axis. The streets of Viale Pasubio and Viale Montello, which intersect at the site of the former gate, were treated as the framework for the new public space.
Porta Volta in Milan - urban development plan
photo by Filippo Romano © Herzog & de Meuron
architectural symmetry and urban order
The project includes not only the Foundation building, but also two neighboring structures - the so-called Edificio Comune and an additional office building - arranged symmetrically on either side of the former urban axis. Their layout refers to the Milanese tradition of twin compositions, known, for example, from the Piazza Duomo. The whole complex is complemented by two historic Caselli Daziari, or former customs posts, which in the past marked the Porta Volta gate.
The complex includes the foundation building and two neighboring structures
Photo by Filippo Romano © Herzog & de Meuron
Symmetry and rhythm in the heart of Milan
The massing of the Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Foundation building in the Porta Volta complex is a sophisticated reinterpretation of the Milanese architectural tradition. The elongated form with a pronounced roofline, harmoniously combined with the facade, creates a coherent structure in which concrete ribs give rhythm and order. The symmetry of the premise harmonizes with the axes of the former Mura Spagnole walls, delineating a new public space. The transparency of the facade, penetrating light into the interior, contrasts with the massiveness of the prefabricated structure, creating a dialogue between modernity and the local context.
Porta Volta in Milan
Photo by Filippo Romano © Herzog & de Meuron
space for people, not for monuments
The first floor of the Foundation building contains spaces with public functions: the main entrance, a bookstore and a café. The second floor is occupied by a multifunctional space - a two-story hall for cultural events and debates. The upper floors house the Foundation' s offices, and the top level is reserved for a reading room with access to the historical archive. The documents are stored in an underground warehouse, providing appropriate preservation conditions.
Porta Volta in Milan
photo by Filippo Romano © Herzog & de Meuron
Greenery as the foundation of a modern city
The entire complex is accessible to residents - not only through service functions on the first floor, but also through the extensive green space created by the compact development. This approach - concentrating the mass of buildings and freeing up land for a park - is a conscious design decision that emphasizes responsibility to the city and its users.
Porta Volta in Milan - cross section
Photo by Filippo Romano © Herzog & de Meuron
open to the city, inviting to live in
Unlike many contemporary office developments, the Porta Volta complex does not close itself off from the city. On the contrary, it fits in with urban life. Cafes, restaurants, a bookstore or coworking spaces on the first floors of the buildings are intended to serve not only employees, but also passersby, neighbors and visitors. In this way, the project becomes not only the new headquarters of the institution, but also a platform for social interaction.
A bird's eye view of the complex
Photo by Filippo Romano © Herzog & de Meuron
architecture that listens
Instead of creating a monumental object, Herzog & de Meuron propose architecture as a framework for activity - a backdrop for daily life, culture and dialogue. Porta Volta is not only a new landmark on the map of Milan, but also an answer to the question of how to design responsibly today. It is a realization that combines the historical context with the needs of the modern city. It does not epitomize form, does not seek momentary admiration, but focuses on sustainability, functionality and the importance of place.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron studio.
