Avion Luxury International Airport Magazine
The Residences of Porta Nuova, Milan’s new heart
The chief town of Lombardy, internationally renowned as the capital of fashion and design, Milan has always been a city to enjoy and, above all, to live. In this vibrant and dynamic atmosphere, there is a new place to stop and pause: Porta Nuova. Located in the historic centre to the north-east of the city, it features a large pedestrian-only square where wide open spaces alternate with buildings constructed thanks to the genius and skill of famous international architects and the intuition of COIMA, the real-estate company that codeveloped this urban redevelopment project, one of the most important of its kind in Europe. A great deal of attention has been paid to lifestyle and sustainability in Porta Nuova, and to restoring a human dimension, creating a place where residents can meet, chat and relax and leave behind the stresses of everyday life. In fact, an area of 160,000 m2 has been devoted to public spaces, cycle paths and gardens with rare plants, which create oases among the modern buildings and connect the surrounding districts. These buildings contain elegant residential apartments, the offices of major international corporations, as well as coffee bars, areas for shopping and cultural centres such as the Fondazione Riccardo Catella. One of the most extraordinary outdoor spaces is the Biblioteca degli Alberi (Library of Trees) park, Milan's green gem, which features perennial plants in an area of 90,000 m2, and was designed by the Dutch landscape architects, Petra Blaisse and Piet Oudolf. This is no simple park, but a true botanic garden that radiates out, almost symbolically, to form a series of paths that connect parts of the city long separated from one another: Piazza Gae Aulenti, the district of Isola, the Garden of Via de Castillia, Via Melchiorre Gioia and the walkway of Varesine, which once hosted the city's carousels. In the centre, harmoniously arranged, are the Circular Forests with interesting names such as “Circle of Birches”, designed for relaxation, “Liquidambar”, an open-air gym, and “Circle of Willows”, a haven for children. This district has seen extraordinary urban transformation in which the values of environmental sustainability, land enhancement and human wellbeing are clearly visible. This fundamental principle is also seen in the new residences. Living Porta Nuova is like living the dream, on a daily basis. The Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), a symbol of urban green development designed by Stefano Boeri Architects, rises tall with its 15,000 spectacular plants, 800 trees and floral vegetation which magically transform the building and each individual apartment as the seasons change. A blend of classical and contemporary, the Residenze dei Giardini, designed by the American studio Lucien Lagrange Architects, features apartments with wide terraces for total relaxation, which look both north and south to keep the rooms inside always fresh and bright. This area is also home to the tallest residence in Italy: Solaria & Aria, designed by the studio Arquitectonica of Miami, some 143 metres high, with deep terraces and large windows that ensure sun exposure and a spectacular view of the Alps and spires of the Duomo. The residence Solea, 69 metres tall and designed by the architectural studio Caputo Partnership, offers a dynamic geometry of forms in white with contrasting black terraces and double and triple height bow-windows with striking views. Instead the Ville di Porta Nuova, designed by Studio M2P Associati, offers a reinterpretation of traditional architecture, inspired by some of the historical buildings of the city, with large windows, double-height interiors and outdoor areas on different levels with gardens facing inwards for maximum seclusion. The carefully designed lobbies of each residential building have an elegant, welcoming atmosphere. The interiors, whether a two-bedroomed apartment or penthouse, on one or more levels, feature personalised design created by COIMA Image in collaboration with Dolce Vita Homes and Giopagani. The exquisite finishes in wood and Italian stone, and the unique furniture, create functional rooms, while
large spaces are reserved for the living areas. Special units with substantial dimensions are available on the upper floors, which offer spectacular views, sensational volumes and natural, functional materials. All residences provide sophisticated surveillance systems in both the residences and communal areas, 24-hour concierge service, wellness routes, fitness areas, shared spaces and party rooms. A new urbanism uniting elegance and total privacy but also respect for the environment, sustainability and pollution reduction, certified LEED Gold. Quality residential buildings that harmoniously fit into the environment on squares and streets with people-oriented public spaces: a unique, ideal place for a contemporary lifestyle in the city of Milan.