Boosts of functions and emotions characterize this project by Federico Delrosso for the headquarters of Ilario Ormezzano SpA (Milano)
Interpreting industrial architecture in the makeover from manufacturing to services is no simple design challenge. Then, when the client wants to soften the work aesthetic, creating offices with a “domestic mood”,the project becomes a delicate territory open to different fusions of ideas.
“The work is created with the union of twin real-estate units occupying the third and fourth floors of an industrial building, completely redeveloped in 2009,” says Federico Delrosso. “The outer shell had a very distinctive character: big windows and passages connect structures between the volumes, in steel … In short everything suggested an architectural “machine” devoted exclusively to work. We could hardly have accentuated this aspect. ”
“We started with the idea that, like normal living spaces,the offices will be alive not just from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., because the architecture doesn’t disappear at sunset.So if we wanted to make these places a bit more domestic, we had toinclude elements that are not strictly rational. Above all we had tothink of them as living spaces 24 hours a day. In daytime they would be purely functional, then in the evening or after sunset the lighting design would bring out the more emotional space.”
“But we didn’t want to create a sharp contrast. Rather a fluid transition, sliding the functional elements towards the emotional and vice versa.”
The open space on the lower floor, housing the 12 operational units, is almost cold in its rational subdivision, but it is balanced by a large dark volume, coated with resin, which is rather mysterious, with an almost rough surface. This conceals the utilities rooms, the kitchenette, two bathrooms and above all two open staircases, initially set off axis. In this way they have been reinserted in the general symmetry of the space.
The cold plate-glass volume, a meeting room during the day, can also be softened by undulating fabrics to darken the walls, while in the evening it reveals a lunar soul that is highly emotional, well summed up in the great spherical Moon chandelier (prod. Davide Groppi).
The 4th floor has four main offices closed individually but visually open, because they are related by a sequence of transparent partitions. Some Mimalamps (design F. Delrosso for Davide Groppi, honourable mention at the XXIst Compasso d’Oro 2008) in the evenings illuminate the course of the connecting corridor.
With its open vista the fourth floor reflects the open plan on the lower level while creating a sense of intimacy and concentration, like those experienced in domestic spaces. The “dark side” of the space in this case is assigned to the elegant flooring in fine grey oak with dark flames.
“In this project there is a very important element of temporal continuity,” says Federico Delrosso. “We did not design it ourselves, but we didn’t want to domesticate it with some designer tricks: the city, the railway below, the cranes … It is the landscape that is alive for 24 hours a day, and I believe this architecture aspires to some of its vitality.” Federico Delrosso
Photo credits: Fausto Mazza
Project profile: Headquarters of Ilario Ormezzano S.p.A. Milan (MI), 2010
Client: Ilario Ormezzano S.p.A.
Designer: Federico Delrosso Architects
Location: Milan
Surface area: 400 sqm on two levels
duration of work: about 8 months
furnishings: Fantoni,Cassina,Baleri
lighting: Davide Groppi
