The Fondazione Feltrinelli has inaugurated in Milan‘s Porta Volta district. Designed by Herzog and de Meuron, the major construction is their first in Italy to be opened to the public by the Swiss-based firm, and the masterplan includes a set of buildings completed along viale Pasubio. The concrete gridded structures are unified by their design and hosts the foundation’s headquarters, the offices of Microsoft Italia, and a large public green area with meeting points, bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways.

Herzog and de Meuron visualized the architectural language of the long, narrow buildings based on simple geometries, the modular repetition of structural components, and transparency. The slopes of the steeply pitched roofs are incorporated into the facades, creating a rhythmic articulation of the interior spaces. In plan, the buildings conform to the historic perimeters, permitting them to perfectly blend into the surrounding urban context.

The building is organized across five levels. The multidisciplinary vision of Fondazione Giangiacomo Feltrinelli is conceived to evolve into a cultural space for educational and research purposes, all the while becoming a welcoming addition to Milan’s architectural landscape. The reception area, library, and coffee bar are based on the lower floors, while a multi-purpose conference hall is hosted on the second floor, with the offices, meeting rooms, and co-production spaces on the third and fourth levels.

Inside the sharp peak of the roof structure, there is an expansive reading room and classroom. This space has been furnished exclusively with custom works designed by Studio Herzog & de Mueron and at the rear, a large oak bookshelf follows the form of the peaked ceiling. The same material is used in the two lower bookcases that run along the inclined glazing of the façades. This impressiv