Milano City Life

Born of the desire to move away from the concept of towers being 'technocratic engineering solutions' and embrace a strategy with more architectural input, Zaha Hadid's tower for CityLife Milan intends to investigate the dynamism and movement created by its position as the gateway to the Fiera Milano.

The structure will incorporate both office and retail space, whose commercial front will activate the piazza at the base of the tower. Rising upwards, the tower twists and its floor plates incrementally rotate around a central core so that its summit aligns with the geometry of the Hadid-designed CityLife housing development across the river.Architects, Courtesy of CityLife

Lateral loads will be resisted by the central core and vertical loads dealt with by a radial array of columns. The double leaf facade utilizes a combination of sun-deflecting louvers and ventilation registers to maintain a comfortable environment internally.

The Hadid-designed CityLife housing will be one of two residential developments on site, the other being a Libeskind creation. The Hadid residences consist of seven linear buildings wrapping around a courtyard, creating a sinuous urban skyline, which starts at five-stories and rises upwards to thirteen. The fibre cement and natural wood panels of the facade help to emphasize Hadid's notable fluid form, which are represented in the terraces and balconies.

Most of the apartments face south-east to exploit the sunlight and views from across the city and park. On the ground floor the double-height lobbies embody large openings and create strong visual continuity with the park.