fondazione prada's OMA-designed tower will open to the public next month

fondazione prada in milan has announced its OMA-designed tower will open next month, housing the institution’s permanent collection. the new building marks the completion of the site which was inaugurated in 2015.

all images courtesy of fondazione prada

the tower is one of three new buildings that distinguish fondazione prada‘s architectural complex, a former distillery dating back to the 1910s. the tall white concrete building soars 60-meters into the city’s urban landscape and will become one of the most recognizable elements of the foundation.

the complex geometric structure comprises a variety of oppositions and fragments designed to never form a single defined image. this differentiates the external appearance of the tower according to the perspective of observation, embodying the architectural vision of the entire foundation. 

the tower includes nine floors, six of which will dedicate 2,000 square meters to exhibitions. the rest will offer a variety of different services to visitors including a restaurant. the exhibition spaces are designed to accomodate works and large installations from the prada collection which includes mostly italian and international artists from the 20th and 21st centuries.

each floor of the tower is configured as a single space with specific environmental conditions. half of the levels develop on a trapezoidal basis whilst the others evolve on a rectangular plan. the external façades are characterized by a succession of glass and concrete surfaces, exposing the interior to light from all angled except for the south where a steel and concrete element unites the tower to a depot. here a large internal opening leads to a panoramic lift navigating the towers facilities.

‘by introducing numerous spatial variables, the complexity of the architectural project contributes to the development of an open and constantly evolving cultural programming‘, claims rem koolhaas. it is hoped the new space will form a repertoire in which new projects and artists can contribute.