Studio Di Architettura Barreca & La Varra

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© Carola Merello

CAMPUS SYMBIOSIS ICS MILAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Barreca & La Varra

STRUCTURAL DESIGN
Milano Engineering Srl

AREA
2800 m²

LEED CERTIFICATION
Greenwich Srl

CLIENT LEADER
Gianandrea Barreca, Giovanni La Varra

PROJECT LEADER
Claudio Barborini

ARTISTIC DIRECTION
Bruno Carniello

INTERIOR DESIGN
Diletta Baiguera

CONSTRUCTION DESIGN
Valentina De Palo, Diletta Rumi

PLANTS DESIGN
Esa Engineering Srl

FACADE DESIGN
Maffeis Engineering Spa

RENDER
Luigi Tambuscio

WORK SUPERVISION
Sce Project Srl, Società Italiana Di Ingegneria E Servizi Srl, Studio Di Ingegneria Rigone

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Ati Between Setten Genesio Spa, Bouygues E&s Intec Italia Spa, Metalsigma Tunesi Spa

CATEGORY
Educational Architecture

LOCATION
Milano, Italy

MANUFACTURERS
Hansgrohe, Simes, Disano, Duravit, Marazzi, Mapei, Metra, Mondo, Oty Light, Rockfon, Tarkett, Viccarbe, Dormakaba, Iguzzini, Artigo, Coind Piscine, Caloi, Gyproc Saint-gobain, Kone, Plotini

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© Carola Merello
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

Text description provided by architect.

Campus Symbiosis of ICS Milan International School is part of Area Symbiosis, the Covivio Business District in Porta Romana in Milan.

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

The building has a very recognisable identity shape and is wrapped in a fluid system of curves that envelops the whole.

The lot on which it stands is not large, so the project has compressed the volumes and spaces as much as possible, generating a "vertical school" in which interior spaces of double and triple heights and exterior spaces such as terraces and loggias follow one after the other, "climbing" the building.

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

In defining the interior design and the outdoor spaces, Barreca & La Varra also involved current students of ICS Milan and students from Milan's high schools in workshops that led to stimulating contamination of design ideas, responding to the needs of the building's future users.

The ground floor, where the indoor collective activities (canteen, gym, swimming pool, and auditorium) open up to the city and to the large outdoor playground equipped for outdoor activities (athletics track and multifunctional sports field), is connected to the top of the building by extremely rich spaces, characterised by strong internal verticality.

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

On the outside, of particular importance is the role of the auditorium roof, which is used as a recreational area in continuity with the interior spaces, with a covered part that allows shelter from the rain.

This terrace is also connected to the one on the first floor (the roof of the indoor sports areas in connection with the canteen), which in turn is connected by a monumental staircase to the outdoor playground.

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

The two terraces are connected both visually and materially by the shell, which near the opening on the ground floor between the auditorium and the gymnasium is interrupted to create an open-air space, a patio with a tree, which increases the amount of light and air entering the ground floor.

The school cycles are organised upwards on the third, fourth, and fifth floors to offer older students a wider and deeper horizon.

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

The configuration of the standard floor is that of a double body with a central distribution, along which there is access to all the school rooms and services.

The corridor, however, is not only conceived as a link between different areas, but as a place to rest that promotes sociability among the students of the different classes:

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

the "compression and decompression" of this space is achieved through a non-constant section and coloured wooden panelling that creates equipped walls and design "lounges" near the entrances to the classrooms.

At the end of the corridors, special rooms - including a circular one equipped with bookshelves - have been created, which take light from the "cuts" in the envelope and create more intimate and silent social environments that can also be used by teachers.

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

Large glass surfaces and finely worked metals allow the façades to interact with their surroundings, reacting in an iridescent way.

The view of the façade is enriched by a three-dimensional treatment of the glass façade, which is set on two different planes, interacting with sunlight and reflections from the surroundings in different ways depending on the depth.

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti

The shell, an element of unity of the building, is made of a sophisticated sheet metal with a double process (stretching and subsequent crumpling) which changes its appearance according to the proximity of the observer.

The structure is a mix of steel and concrete and was designed to optimise site time, with prefabricated areas (auditorium, gymnasium, and floor slabs) and areas built on site to adapt precisely to the shape of the building.

Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
© UDB studio - Ugo De Berti


Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Plan
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Plan - site
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Plan - Ground floor
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Plan - First floor


Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Facade - North
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Facade - East


Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Section - Cross
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Section - Longitudinal


Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Concept
Campus Symbiosis ICS Milan International School
Detail - Facade

Studio Di Architettura Barreca & La Varra
T +39 2 48029050 F +39 2 4980448
Studio Di Architettura Barreca & La Varra
Via Tito Vignoli 9, 20146 Milano, Italy