The form of the building, a 124-meter elliptical tower in the Porta Nuova quarter in the heart of Milan, was derived from careful analysis of the special characteristics of the physical context, the local climate, and sun exposure.
Unipol Group Headquarters
A project of maximum efficiency
“Sensory” architecture
The project for the new Unipol Group Headquarters is an example of “sensory” architecture. The dual-skin façade transforms the building into an environmentally responsive organism, much like a tree with an orderly network of branches interacting with the surrounding light and air.
Visual by Engram Studio
The tower background
Plan by MCA
The atrium as a bioclimatic device
The entrance is marked by a large glass canopy folding upwards from the façade itself. Visitors are greeted by a large central atrium that extends all the way to the top of the building, with the various floors overlooking the light- and vegetation-filled space. Together with the rooftop greenhouse and the façade system itself, the atrium transforms the entire tower into a bioclimatic device. Beyond its role as an environmental buffer, the atrium lends itself to creating an inviting series of formal and informal reception and meeting spaces.
Visual by MCA Visual
Visual by MCA Visual
MCA archive
Visual by MCA Visual
Offices with thermal comfort and views
The offices look onto Porta Nuova’s large city park on the north side of the building, in this way optimizing both thermal comfort and views. The vast atrium is located on the south-west side, toward the city center, where it enhances the environmental quality of the entire building by protecting the south façade from direct sun and by creating natural ventilation of the interior spaces through the “chimney effect”. The upper management offices and formal meeting spaces on the top floors directly face the Milan skyline.
Visual by MCA Visual
The botanical greenhouse
The tower culminates in a large botanical greenhouse with panoramic views and an area dedicated to hosting public meetings and cultural events.
The bioclimatic project
Graphic Design by Zup Design
Graphic Design by Zup Design
Detail view of the BIM model integrated with building systems and structures
The BIM (Building Information Modeling) project
The complexity and desired quality level of the building required the use of building information modeling, or BIM. The purpose was to create a single integrated building model in which the geometrical and numerical data deriving from the various disciplines involved in the creative process (structural engineering, building services, etc.) could be analyzed as a whole.
BIM details of the various façade layers
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