BICOCCA SUPERLAB: LEED Gold requalification between memory and innovation

A redevelopment project in Milan that transforms the former Breda Siderurgica offices into contemporary and sustainable spaces, preserving the industrial memory and experimenting with a transparent rubber facade for a unique dialogue with light.

Industrial Memory in the Bicocca District

Located in the Bicocca district in Milan, Bicocca Superlab is an architectural redevelopment project with LEED Gold certification, carried out by the studio BALANCE. The intervention involved a 6,500 sqm office building, former headquarters of the Breda Siderurgica offices, a historic Milanese factory. In line with the philosophy of the studio and its architectural projects, the project authors chose not to demolish the original four floors, but to restructure the interior and exterior, preserving the imposing iron structure. This approach respects the industrial memory and the beauty of the original construction, enhancing the "unfinished" aspect that celebrates the identity of the place.

Optimized functionalities and flows

The project focused on adding as little as possible, aiming to enhance the flows and internal functions of the building. Additional elements were made independent from the existing structure, creating free and bright spaces, capable of meeting new work needs. In particular, the basements were transformed into habitable spaces with large entrance halls, workspaces, and reception areas, obtaining 1,600 square meters of new usable surfaces thanks to municipal concessions.

The facade and the dialogue with light

One of the most innovative aspects of the project is the facade, composed of transparent silicone rubber uprights, a tribute to the history of the neighborhood that housed the first Pirelli factory. This experimental choice allows the facade to interact with both daylight and nighttime, creating a unique aesthetic. The new facade, advanced compared to the stairwells, creates a visual effect of greater fluidity, while the original concrete panels have been removed to reveal the underlying metal structures.

Materials and colors: respecting the original with contemporary touches

Inside, the original concrete structure has been left exposed, enhancing the material essence of the building. The upper floors are differentiated with a subtle color tone that varies for each level: green on the ground floor, yellow on the first, and coral on the second. The use of colors was designed to emphasize the contemporaneity of the intervention, allowing the raw materials such as concrete, wood, and steel to prevail. At night, the building comes to life, showcasing its "veins" and internal structure through specially designed lighting to enhance its main elements.

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BICOCCA SUPERLAB: LEED Gold redevelopment between memory and innovation

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BALANCE

Via Nicastro, 1, 20137 Milan MI, Italy