Palazzo Mondadori

The setting of the Oscar Niemeyer designed Mondadori building within the Porcinai designed landscape makes the combined ensemble one of the 21st century most striking and unique architectural compositions based on modernist principles, but with a resonance to both the classical and pastoral.

The landscape setting reflects upon the essential characteristics of the surrounding Lombardy landscape with its open water, water meadows, poplar plantation and hedgerows. The strong linearity of Oscar Niemeyer building gains the quality of a heroic infrastructure such as that of Roman aqueduct or bridge in the countryside. The physical transcends into the metaphysical.

Our approach to the project has been twofold. On the one hand to respect the coherence, integrity and wholeness of the original designed landscape whilst also considering a new programmatic overlay to activate the site to changing circumstances and requirements of the 21st century.

The spatial framework of the Porcinai landscape is to be conserved and for future generations to be enjoyed. As the original Porcinai landscape has reached a mature age of 50 years, even its conservation needs to be considered in active management plan of a phased process of rejuvenation. Of special consideration will be how to make the original landscape framework resilient in times of climate change. Set within this rejuvenated framework the ground plane will be activated; both in its recreational use as well in increased biodiversity. New inserted ecologies will create a dynamic and immersive landscape setting for outdoor office usage and communal events.

Of importance is that new interventions are based on a full integration of architecture and landscape but to be recognised as ‘light-touch’ additions in dialogue with the original but expressed in its own architectural language. The actual modification and activation of the terrain allows a subtle interaction between integrating new uses and experiences as well opening new perspectives and viewpoints to the original composition of building and landscape. Whilst creating a new overlay, the modification of topography to activate and animate the Mondadori complex certainly found precedents in other Porcinai projects which are often characterised by reshaping the terrain to hide and reveal sequestered glimpses of building and landscape.