Palazzo Italia - Human Technopole Foundation

Palazzo Italia is the result of an international competition promoted by Expo 2015 S.p.A. in May 2013 and awarded by Nemesi. Currently the building, after the completion of some functional adaptation works completed in mid 2019, is the seat of the prestigious Human Technopole foundation.

For the architecture of Palazzo Italia, the Nemesi studio started from the idea of cohesion, intended as a force of attraction that generates a renewed sense of community and belonging. The energy of the community is represented by the internal square; heart that brings together the four volumes that shape Palazzo Italia. The architectural volumes, a metaphor for large trees, present massive supports on the ground that simulate large roots that sink into the ground; the same volumes, seen from the internal square, opening and stretching upwards are freed as foliage through the large glass roof.

Palazzo Italia is the symbol of a large contemporary factory, an all-Italian architectural and construction challenge, a work characterized by experimentation and innovation in terms of design, materials and technologies used. Palazzo Italia, in fact, was designed with a view to: an "osmotic organism" that communicates and exchanges energy with the surrounding environment.

The entire external surface of Palazzo Italia, in "i.active BIODYNAMIC" concrete with TX Active patented by Italcementi, consists of over 700 panels, all different from each other engineered by Styl-Comp. In contact with sunlight, the principle present in the material allows to "capture" some pollutants present, thus helping to free the atmosphere from smog. The cement mortar provides for the use for 80% of recycled aggregates, in part coming from the scraps of Carrara marble processing, which give a higher brilliance than traditional white cements. The "dynamism" is a characteristic of the new material that has a fluidity that allows the creation of complex shapes such as those that characterize the panels of Palazzo Italia.

Built area14.400 sqm Exhibition spaces Institutional spaces Events / auditorium spaces offices/ meeting spaces restaurant.

PLACE:
Milan, Rho-Pero area

CLIENT:
Expo 2015 SpA

DESIGN CONTEST LAUNCH: 17 December 2012
AWARD DESIGN CONTEST: May 17, 2013
OPENING: 1 May 2015 (internal renovation to host Human Technopole foundation: 2019)

ENERGY RATING:
Class A

INTERVENTION AREA:
Palazzo Italia, 6 levels + terrace
60X60X34 m (including branched casing and cover sail)
built area of 14,400 m2
expositive spaces
spaces of representation / delegations
spaces for events / auditoriums
office / meeting spaces
spaces for catering.

PUBLICATION OF THE TENDER FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE WORKS: 17 October 2013
FOUNDATIONS: December 2013
TENDER AWARD FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE WORKS: 9 January 2014
START OF THE SITE: January 15, 2014
INAUGURATION: 1st May 2015

GENERAL CONTRACTOR ITALIAN PAVILION:
Italiana Costruzioni S.p.A.

BRANCHED PANEL DATA:
total surface 9,000 m2
over 700 panels
single panel size 4 x 4 m
single panel weight from 1 to 4 tons
quantity of cement i.active BIODYNAMIC 2,000 tons

COVER SAIL DATA:
total area 4,000 m2
quantity of materials: 400 tons of steel - 4,000 m2 of glass
photovoltaic glass 650 m2
total weight about 450 tons

ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT:
Nemesi & Partners Srl, Arch. Michele Molè Founder and Director and Arch. Susanna Tradati Associate Partner and Project Manager

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM:
Project coordinator
Arch. Alessandro Miele
Project team
Alessandro Belilli, Claudio Cortese, Kai Felix Dorl, Daniele Durante, Enrico Falchetti, Alessandro Franceschini, Davide Giambelli, Alessandra Giannone, Paolo Greco, Sebastiano Maccarrone, Paolo Maselli, Matteo Pavese, Fabio Rebolini, Giuseppe Zaccaria
Fabrizio Bassetta, Tiziano De Paolis, Francesca Fabiana Fochi, Chiara Maiorana, Mariarosaria Meloni

MODEL MAKERS:
Officina06, Gianluca Brancaleone

PROJECT PARTNERS:
Proger SpA - Bms Progetti Srl, Design of structures and plants, Engineering and Cost Management, Safety coordination during the design phase
Prof. Ing. Livio De Santoli, Energy sustainability

PROJECT CONSULTANTS:
ABeC (Engineering of glass facades); Altene Ingegneri Associati (Fluid dynamic study for the disposal of cover water), Arch. Zomraude Chantal Chalouhi (Firefighting Project), Energo SpA (Thermodynamic study and natural ventilation of the square), GTA Srl (Environmental feasibility), Ing. Gennaro Loperfido (Systems of smoke and heat evacuation), Studio Montanari & Partners Srl (Functions, spaces and logistics of the Catering services), Mario Nanni (Lighting design), Ing. Dario Paini (Acoustic Project), Eng. Samuele Sassi- FSC Engineering srl / Fire Engineering / Srl Ramboll Group (Fluid Dynamics Analysis and Fire engineering), Studio Capè (structural construction project and BIM management of the construction project); Systematica Srl (Flow Modeling).

BUILDING ENTERPRISES PALAZZO ITALIA:
Mantovani Group, excavations and foundations
Italiana Costruzioni S.p.A., construction of the building, systems and finishes
Italcementi SpA and Styl-Comp Group, construction of the branched envelope. Italcementi production of iactive biodynamic cement, Styl-Comp engineering, production and assembly of the branched architectural cladding
Stahlbau Pichler Srl, construction of a cover sail

Palazzo Italia - Human Technopole Foundation by Nemesi Architects in Italy won the WA Award Cycle 34. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.