Design and contemporary style

THE EVOLVING CITY, A LOOK TO THE WORLD

This is an extraordinary ferment period for Milan because is the set where are rising projects designed by world renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid, Libeskind, Perrault, Pelli, and the Italians Piano, Zucchi and Boeri.
Skyscrapers, meeting centers and squares, redesigned to pay tribute to the homeland of creativity and contemporary style, are the cornerstone of this itinerary.

Bosco Verticale

Winning the prestigious International Highrise Award 2014, Bosco Verticale gains the award as the most beautiful and innovative building in the world.

The skyscraper has been valuated on sustainability, design and integration into the urban context, and stands out from other 800 challenging buildings thanks to its "expression of the human need for being in touch with nature", as affirmed by
Prof. Dr. Felix Semmelroth, Chief of Science and Culture Department of Frankfurt, and member of the International Highrise Award 2014 committee.

Porta Nuova: the new coolest district

Leaving the hotel and turning right, you will find yourself at Porta Nuova, district, which together with the adjacent Porta Garibaldi and Isola, revives one of the hearts of the city. Its extraordinary energies help fuel the silent hard work of a city that has always been able to excel on the European stage. It is the largest urban redevelopment ever built in the centre of Milan and one of the main at European level: more than 290,000 square meters.

Porta Nuova is the natural extension of Via Manzoni and Via Turati, just 1,500 meters from the Duomo. In just a few minutes’ walk, you will be able to reach piazza San Babila, the Castello Sforzesco and the gardens of Porta Venezia. Porta Nuova will be a development point central to the area of Expo 2015 in North-West Milan, with its strategic role of economic growth driver.

Diamond Tower

In front of the hotel one can admire the Diamond Tower, which with its height of 140 meters ranks fifth among the tallest skyscrapers in Italy. A particular characteristic are its vertically inclined perimeter columns.

The interior layout is based on a central core around which the space is developed to maximize the entry of natural light and to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the city.

Unicredit Tower and Piazza Gae Aulenti

Without distancing yourself too much, you will be able to admire the tallest skyscraper in Italy, the Unicredit Tower, which with its 321m has quickly become the symbol of the ever-changing Milan and the emblem of the whole redevelopment project of the Porta Nuova district.

The skyscraper, whose summit may be reached by elevator in 40 seconds, is visible from a distance of 10km, and is four times the height of the Tower of Pisa and twice the height of the Duomo of Milan. In Milan too, like in New York, Hong Kong, Paris and many other international metropolises, some buildings have now become part of the “panorama of the city, its memory and history” (M. Catella).

The skyscraper is part of a three building-complex, arranged in a semicircle around the new Piazza Gae Aulenti, circular-shaped elevated podium and vital centre of the new neighbourhood of Porta Nuova. (MM2 Porta Garibaldi)

Piazza Cadorna: Ago, Filo e Nodo

It is interesting to know that the square is named after an Italian architect and designer, who in the redesign of Piazza Cadorna outlined what is still today a gem of the city of Milan: the Ago, Filo e Nodo (Needle, Thread and Knot).

The latter, in addition to being a symbol of Lombardy’s hard-work and a tribute to the fashion world, is an interpretation of the snake of the Milan emblem.

Palazzo Lombardia

The Grattacielo Pirelli was surpassed in 2010 by the Palazzo Lombardia, 161m high, the new headquarters of the Regione Lombardia, and in 2011 from the Torre Unicredit, 321m high. It is the headquarters of the Regione Lombardia, with the presidency and totality of departments (general directorates). The complex is built in the piazza Città di Lombardia, adjacent to Via Melchiorre Gioia, in Milan. It is currently the building with the tallest roof in Italy.

The complex is composed of a tower surrounded by a system of buildings with sinusoidal shape. This particular shape gives life to an urban ovoid space covered by a structure in transparent plastic material, which is considered the largest covered square in Europe. (M2 M3 Centrale + 9 minute walk along via Luigi Galvani).

It is good to know that you can admire the city panorama from the Belvedere, on the 39th floor of Palazzo Lombardia, every Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM for free.

Three Towers and City Life

City Life is the urban requalification project of the Portello district.
This area was previously occupied by the Milano City main Fair, and to bring new life to the zone, it has been necessary to involve some international architects for projecting spaces.

Nowadays it is a real modern district, distinguished by the three main towers which name bothe the square and the metro station.
Big names who contributed to rebuilding were the archistars Daniel Libeskind, Arata Isozaki and Zaha Hadid.

Each of them has designed one of the towers, defining the new city skyline, serving some international companies.

Discover other itineraries

Milan in one day

The capital of food

Shopping & Fashion addicted

Drinking Milan

Museums between Art and History

OR CALL US AT +39 (02) 6346