matteo thun and partners: 37 tortona, milan

tortona 37 by matteo thun & partners image courtesy matteo thun & partners

the transformation of via tortona in milan, which was started back in the 1990s, is continuing, revealing its full potential for redeveloping and reinterpreting some of the most interesting urban spots in the city.

the tortona 37 project by matteo thun & partners is part of this process of reusing the land and strengthening it through low environmental impact architecture. a building project which salvages a former industrial plant covering 25,000 square metres (it used to belong to general electric) and restores it to the city throughcutting-edge energy-efficient technology.

tortona 37 by matteo thun & partners image courtesy matteo thun & partners

tortona 37 is a mixed-purpose architectural complex composed of five buildings set out like the courtyard around a garden planted with trees. each rectangular-based building has 6 levels allowing double-exposures for the property units. they are double height (7 m) units generating open spaces with an interior mezzanine of great functional versatility. here showrooms, laboratories, professional studios, shop and offices find their own custom design: the highly flexible interior spaces also ensure sustainably over time.

tortona 37 by matteo thun & partners image © paolo riolzi

the shell the glass facade, incorporated in a system of outside curtains, is highly efficient at reducing the impact of sunlight (up to 87%) to prevent the interiors from overheating during summer. further screening is provided by the wooden shutters (a material used “purely”) on the window frames and large overhanging bow-windows, so that its image evolves naturally over time.

tortona 37 by matteo thun & partners image © paolo riolzi

sustainability for the tortona 37 project image courtesy matteo thun & partners

wells that extract groundwater to heat and cool the building image courtesy matteo thun & partners

four wells extract groundwater at a temperature of between 14°C-16°C depending on the time of year. the water is conveyed into an underground catchment and decantation tank and then supplied to each of the individual building units by means of heat pumps. tortona 37 uses a mixed system of primary air and radiant ceiling panels for climatising the interiors. the panels are supplied by ‘low-temperature hot’ water in winter and ‘high temperature cold’ water in summer and only require a minimum amount of energy to operate at various times of year. moreover, the ambient temperature is controlled by means of irradiation with no noise or air currents to ensure maximum comfort in the areas occupied by people.

the primary air is provided by processing units fitted with pre-processing batteries also drawing on ground water. compared to conventional systems, the main benefits are high energy efficiency, zero emission at the installation site, no sound or landscape impact.