Conservative Restoration and New Spaces for Contemporary Art

Vittorio Grassi Architects has designed the redevelopment project for a historic building located at Corso di Porta Romana 16-18, in the center of Milan. The project involves a late 18th-century complex, once part of Palazzo Negri, and breathes new life into a building of historical significance through a design that combines conservative restoration, technological innovation, and energy efficiency.

The goal is to transform the building into a modern business hub capable of meeting the needs of the contemporary workplace without altering its architectural identity.

A project that showcases Milan’s historical heritage

Corso di Porta Romana is one of the city’s main historic thoroughfares, coinciding with the ancient decumanus of Roman Mediolanum. In this context of great historical and urban significance, the project preserves the architectural elements that characterize the building’s main facade—which is subject to preservation regulations—by carrying out conservative restoration work that respects the facade’s original design.

The renovation, however, has a more profound impact on the interior facades, where new glass facades improve natural lighting, energy efficiency, and the relationship between workspaces and courtyards.

Flexible Architecture for Contemporary Offices

The project introduces a new functional layout for the spaces designated for administrative activities. The above-ground floors house offices, coworking areas, meeting rooms, and support spaces designed to offer maximum flexibility of use, while the basement level houses new meeting rooms, common areas, and utility rooms.

Among the most significant changes are the relocation of the new elevators within the existing atrium, which improves the building’s vertical accessibility, and the expansion of the second-floor terrace, designed as an outdoor space for the use of building occupants.

Energy Efficiency and Quality of Spaces

The project includes a major program to improve energy efficiency, structural integrity, and functional suitability. The redesign of the courtyards, the increase in glazed areas, and the reorganization of the layout help create brighter, more efficient, and more comfortable spaces, in line with the highest standards of contemporary office architecture.