kengo kuma starts work on 'welcome', a biophilic mixed-use complex in milan

a biophilic development designed by kengo kuma and associates has broken ground in milan. titled ‘welcome’, the mixed-use project is located in the italian city’s former rizzoli district, previously an abandoned industrial area. anchored around a newly established public piazza, the project seeks to act as a catalyst to revive the entire area — uniting people and nature for a better quality of life and work. once complete in 2024, the project will include offices, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and auditoriums, as well as restaurants and lounges, shops, a supermarket, a wellness area, and places for temporary exhibitions.

image © kengo kuma and associates | video © luxigon

commissioned by the independent platform europa risorse, the ‘welcome’ development is populated with greenery throughout. the piazza is packed with vegetation and surrounded by soft rolling hills, while open-air courtyards, dedicated to informal work and meetings, also form part of the design by kengo kuma and his firm. in addition, the terraces, designed as extensions of the outside spaces, will host flower gardens and sheltered walkways, while greenhouses will double as workplaces that can be used for recreation and entertainment.

image © kengo kuma and associates

conceived as the ‘biophilic office of the future’, the development — financed by a fund managed by pinebridge benson elliot — unites work and nature as part of a complex centered around employee health and well-being. ‘milan is a city with exciting and unique combination of contemporary and tradition in art, architecture and crafts that makes the ideal ground for our work to be implemented,’ says kengo kuma. ‘our organic design approach and designing of wood can be achievable in high quality with italian craft.’

image © kengo kuma and associates

in addition to plentiful green spaces, the ‘welcome’ project promises zero carbon emissions, renewable energy resources, consumption control, and the reuse of water. built using timber, the project totals 50,000 square meters (538,200 square feet) across six sites that have been layered, rotated, and interwoven with each other to create the complex. meanwhile, the system of energy generation for heating and cooling, along with the use of solar panels, will allow the building to reach maximum sustainability levels. the project is already under construction, with completion scheduled for 2024.

image © kengo kuma and associates

image © kengo kuma and associates

image © kengo kuma and associates

image © kengo kuma and associates

image © luxigon

image © luxigon

image © luxigon

project info:

name: welcome, feeling at work
location: milan, italy
architect: kengo kuma & associates
commissioned by: europa risorse
financed by a fund managed by: pinebridge benson elliot
status: under construction, completion scheduled for 2024

grid structural design: holzner & bertagnolli engineering
tower structural design: redesco progetti srl
MEP systems design: manens-tifs s.p.a.
project management: J&A consultants s.r.l.
façade design: arup
fire prevention technician: silvestre mistretta
acoustic design: cole jarman ltd
general contractor: CMB società cooperativa muratori e braccianti di carpi
architectural design: planimetro
plants: ATI longhi and zaffaroni
façades: focchi group