Kengo Kuma to design Italy′s largest wooden building

Once regenerated, the former Rizzoli building in Milan will host co-working spaces, a supermarket, a medical center, and a big plaza, all surrounded by greenery. Botanist Stefano Mancuso will partecipate to the project.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano. Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano. Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano. Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano. Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano. Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano. Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano. Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

Milan is filling its urban gaps one by one. Thus, the abandoned building that once housed the publishing company Rizzoli – in Crescenzago, a district of the North-East suburbs of the city – will become a “green workspace”, signed by Kengo Kuma & Associates and developed in collaboration with botanist Stefano Mancuso.

In place of the former Rizzoli will be built “the largest wooden building in Italy”, with offices, co-working spaces, a supermarket, a medical center, and several other services. The project has been called “Welcome, feeling at work” and aims to create a “biophilic” office, among green squares and courtyards, raised paths, roofs covered with vegetation, vegetable gardens, and plants.

In front of Welcome, then, will be developed “Green Between, urban weaving”, a social housing project led by Redo sgr, which involves the construction of 350 affordable houses, with the hope of attracting young people to the city where living has the most expensive price in Italy.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano.

Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano.

Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano.

Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano.

Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano.

Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano.

Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.

"Welcome, feeling at work", ex Rizzoli. Milano.

Image courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates.