Il Centro shopping centre

With its 120,000 m2 of surface area, Il Centro is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe and occupies part of the area of the former Alfa Romeo factory, now freed from industrial sheds. The frontage measures almost a kilometre and the horizontal development is marked by large continuous wooden porticoes, supported by strong columns. The façade is inspired by Lombard farmhouses with pergolas, porticoes, large windows and beautiful shutters: all architectural elements that are also available inside the shopping mall. Along the frontage there are five entrances, identified by projecting wooden constructions supported by green Alpine marble pillars. The hexagon-shaped main entrance is the fulcrum of the shopping centre, and the shopping area and the hypermarket develop from here and, via a long flight of steps, you access the balcony floor. The entire Centre is in fact a long double-height gallery along which over two hundred shops are lined up. The frontage of shop windows...

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With its 120,000 m2 of surface area, Il Centro is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe and occupies part of the area of the former Alfa Romeo factory, now freed from industrial sheds. The frontage measures almost a kilometre and the horizontal development is marked by large continuous wooden porticoes, supported by strong columns. The façade is inspired by Lombard farmhouses with pergolas, porticoes, large windows and beautiful shutters: all architectural elements that are also available inside the shopping mall. Along the frontage there are five entrances, identified by projecting wooden constructions supported by green Alpine marble pillars. The hexagon-shaped main entrance is the fulcrum of the shopping centre, and the shopping area and the hypermarket develop from here and, via a long flight of steps, you access the balcony floor. The entire Centre is in fact a long double-height gallery along which over two hundred shops are lined up. The frontage of shop windows is interrupted here and there by plazas with restaurants and cafeterias. There are spacious, comfortable areas to stop and meet up. The roof of the large internal street is created with a Glulam structure and glass covers to absorb the external light and transmit it inside in a uniform way. The environment thus attains a natural brightness and when moving between points of purchase recalls walking on the pavements of historic centres.
Although of large dimensions, Il Centro fits harmoniously into the landscape. The use of wood as the main material, with passing time, will modify the colour scheme of the architecture to transform it into a natural colour integrated into the green context. Furthermore, Glulam and the types of connections have made it possible to use prefabrication extensively. The entire complex has been designed according to criteria of energy saving and bio-sustainability, in line with the standards promoted by the U.S. Green Building Council to obtain the prestigious LEED® Gold level certification.
Finally, the centre is located at an important road axis: situated at the gates of Milan, it overlooks three of the busiest motorways in Italy and along the Monza-Rho provincial A-road. To favour the fluidity and safety of the accesses, the routes have been divided into four categories: heavy tyres, light tyres, cycle and pedestrian, which never cross each other.

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Area

Architecture

Year

2013-2016

Field

Newbuilds

Size

130000 Square meters

Client

Tea

Phase

Completed

  • Humanistic Architecture and Design
  • Humanistic Architecture and Design
  • Humanistic Architecture and Design
  • Humanistic Architecture and Design
  • Humanistic Architecture and Design

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