Share
The three elements on which the design of the Via Fatebenefratelli frontage is based are the customization and renewal of the entrance and the base, the new scenic presence of the windows and balconies, and the reinterpretation of materials, decoration, and colors.
The entrance is characterized by the widening of the existing doorway, emphasized by a projecting glass canopy. This new solution allows for an immediate perception of the building’s depth and the feeling of a welcoming lobby.
The whiteness and new spatiality of the lobby were also achieved thanks to the installation of high-performance SistemN Bianco porcelain stoneware by Marazzi, a surface that also defined the elevator landing areas,
From the point of view of enhancing the property, the most significant intervention was certainly the restyling of the roof and its renewed use through a glazed structure and a terrace that provide an enviable view of the city. The raised floors of the rooftop have been covered with Plaster20 Grey cement-effect porcelain stoneware, also by Marazzi, which, with its 20 mm thickness, allows for dry installation outdoors as well as abrasion resistance and frost-proof and non-slip characteristics, ideal for highly frequented spaces.
The account of the renovation work on the Fatebenefratelli22 property in Milan provided an opportunity to delve into some strategic themes of sustainable design with Carmen Spagnoli, engineer and Sustainability Director at the Lombardini22 design firm.
From energy saving to people’s well-being, how has the sustainability paradigm changed in the project?
The experience of the pandemic marked a turning point, highlighting new priorities related to the livability of spaces and pushing toward a concept of space more attentive to well-being and prevention. In this context, WELL certification has become increasingly central, precisely because it addresses in a structured way themes such as air, light, and water quality, acoustics, and psychological comfort, helping to define new standards for the spaces in which we live and work.
Construction and urban context, which themes do you work on to define the character of the building?
To define the character of a building, we work on several design levels, closely interconnected. A central aspect concerns the relationship with the urban context, especially when working within a consolidated historic fabric. In these cases, it is essential to establish a balanced dialogue with the existing structures, respecting the scale, proportions, materials, and architectural identity of the place. The goal is not to imitate the existing, but to build a harmony that enhances both the new and the pre-existing elements.
At the same time, we use parametric analysis tools to investigate the specific environmental conditions of the site. We assess solar irradiation, natural shading, ventilation, and the urban microclimate, so as to properly orient the building, optimize its shape, and design passive strategies that improve the thermal and visual comfort of spaces.
The choice of materials is also guided by environmental and performance criteria, favoring durable, recyclable, and low-impact solutions, always in relation to the characteristics of the context. Finally, systems strategies are integrated from the early stages to ensure efficiency, reduce consumption, and maximize the use of renewable sources.
Together, these elements help define architecture capable of integrating into the urban context with measure and coherence, combining environmental sustainability and quality of built space.
Ceramics, a material that allows for high recovery of raw material while ensuring hygienic performance and durability: how do you choose surfaces and what fascinates you about this material?
Ceramics is a material that effectively combines functional features—such as resistance, hygiene, and durability—with great expressive versatility, capable of adapting to different architectural styles, from contemporary to dialogue with historic contexts.
One aspect that makes ceramics particularly interesting today is also its environmental impact, which can be assessed through life cycle analysis. In the initial stages of LCA analysis—A1, A2, and A3—it presents several strengths: it uses natural raw materials, with a portion of pre-consumer recycled material, has a consolidated production chain that optimizes transportation, and in recent years has seen significant improvements in industrial processes, especially in terms of energy efficiency, waste reduction, and recovery of heat from the production process.
These factors help limit environmental impact from the very first stages of the life cycle, making ceramics a choice consistent with a design approach oriented toward sustainability, without sacrificing the aesthetic and performance quality of the material.
Ceramics in interiors and in defining envelopes, how do you work in these two different design contexts? What criteria do you use to choose materials?
The use of ceramics, both in interiors and on external envelopes, is part of an evaluation that concerns the entire building, where the material’s life cycle is a constant reference. We are interested in working with materials that combine durability, low maintenance needs, and good traceability of production processes. Ceramics meet these criteria and, in both application contexts, represent a sound choice also in terms of consistency with sustainability goals, thanks also to their fundamental contribution to achieving LEED, WELL, and BREEAM scores.
For interiors, we consider aspects such as healthiness, resistance to wear, and long-term stability, which translate into lower impact related to replacement and maintenance.
For exteriors, on the other hand, the behavior of the material in relation to the urban microclimate also comes into play. In particular, we favor surfaces with light colors and high SRI (Solar Reflectance Index) values, capable of reducing heat absorption and helping mitigate the heat island effect.
Ceramics therefore allow us to combine technical and environmental performance, adapting to different areas of use without losing coherence with design objectives.
Sustainability is increasingly linked to the life cycle of materials, which is also at the core of the Ecodesign Directive: how do you work on this aspect?
Sustainability related to the life cycle of materials is now a central criterion even at a regulatory level, as demonstrated by the new Ecodesign Directive. In this context, ceramics prove to be consistent with many of the required criteria: it is a durable, stable material, with recycled content, and with production processes that are increasingly optimized from an energy and environmental point of view.
Moreover, its behavior during use—inert, safe, and requiring minimal maintenance—reinforces its consistency with an approach oriented toward quality and circularity, in line with European regulations. These are criteria we take into consideration already in the material selection stages, to ensure conscious and long-term choices.