BIG reaches final phase of 'citywave', marking milestone for milan’s largest solar roof

BIG reaches construction milestone for CityWave in Milan

During Milan Design Week 2025, BIG–Bjarke Ingels Group tops out CityWave, a 140-meter-long solar canopy in Milan’s CityLife district—set to become one of the world’s largest urban rooftop photovoltaic installations. Spanning two new courtyard office buildings, the sweeping timber and steel structure crowns the final phase of the CityLife masterplan, designed in collaboration with Atelier Verticale. designboom was on-site to attend the historic topping-out ceremony, witnessing the milestone in sustainable architecture.

Clad entirely in solar tiles and shaped as a catenary curve, the canopy quietly commands attention while signaling a new era of climate-conscious architecture at the heart of the ambitious redevelopment of the Italian city. ‘What we have attempted here is to resist the temptation to add yet another tower to the already majestic urban ensemble of CityLife, and rather create a truly inviting urban space as a gateway to this new neighborhood,’ shares Bjarke Ingels. ‘The solar roof of the timber canopy uniting the two buildings provides shade and shelter for the life of the city, and serves as an urban gesture of environmental and social performance.’

Set for completion in 2026, CityWave departs from the expected verticality of a skyline defined by towers by Hadid, Isozaki, and Libeskind. Instead of building up, BIG builds across. Their proposal—winner of an international competition by Generali Real Estate—replaces the idea of twin towers with two mid-rise volumes, united by a dramatic canopy of tensioned steel cables and engineered timber. The 73,000-square-meter project reclaims the ground plane with a pedestrian plaza at its heart and layers of greenery that integrate into the wider CityLife public park. 

all images by Alberto Fanelli, unless stated otherwise

A Solar Canopy Inspired by Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Danish architect Bjarke Ingels describes the intervention as a ’21st-century interpretation of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II,’ referencing Milan’s historic love of grand public spaces. Apart from being a nod to heritage, the timber canopy is also a powerhouse of environmental performance. With WiredScore Platinum, WELL Platinum, and LEED Platinum pre-certifications, CityWave is Italy’s first office project to hit all three. Passive cooling, thermal energy storage, and groundwater systems reduce energy use by up to 40% compared to similar buildings, while the solar canopy maximizes onsite energy production, turning architecture into infrastructure.

From its colonnade of slender steel columns to the upcycled stone facades referencing Milanese masonry, every gesture in CityWave is calibrated for openness and continuity. The two buildings—rising to 105 and 53 meters—frame 4,500 square meters of shaded outdoor loggias, stepped terraces, and internal courtyards. Natural ventilation flows through the structure, culminating in a rooftop bar and panoramic terrace with sweeping views toward Monte Rosa. ‘Rather than proposing two towers’ says BIG partner Lorenzo Boddi, ‘we envision two courtyard buildings defined not by their height, but by connection.’ 

the 140-meter-long solar canopy is set to become one of the world’s largest urban rooftop photovoltaic installations

the sweeping timber and steel structure crowns the final phase of the CityLife masterplan | image © designboom

designed in collaboration with Atelier Verticale

CityWave departs from the expected verticality of the skyline | image courtesy of Beauty and The Bit

a canopy of tensioned steel cables and engineered timber unites the towers | image courtesy of Beauty and The Bit

every gesture in CityWave is calibrated for openness and continuity | image courtesy of BIG

the project reclaims the ground plane with a pedestrian plaza at its heart | image courtesy of Beauty and The Bit

the timber canopy is a powerhouse of environmental performance | image courtesy of Beauty and The Bit

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Bjarke Ingels on the CityWave site | image © designboom

CityWave is set for completion in 2026 | image © designboom

image © designboom

image © designboom

model of the project was revealed on-site | image © designboom

image © designboom

project team of BIG | image courtesy of BIG

image courtesy of Beauty and The Bit

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

diagram by BIG

CityWave model by BIG

CityWave model by BIG

project info:

name: CityWave

architect: BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group | @big_builds

location: Milan, Italy

area: 73,000 square meters

client: Generali Real Estate

partners-in-charge: Bjarke Ingels, Andreas Klok Pedersen, Lorenzo Boddi

project architect: Marina Cogliani

technical director: Andy Young

collaborators: Atelier Verticale, Manens, Holzner Bertagnolli, Faces, Castiglioni, GAD, AGEP, Systematica, Studio Mistretta & Co

engineering: BIG Engineering (Andy Coward, Bjarke Koch-Orvad, Duncan Horswill, Jonathan Russell, Miles Treacy, Timo Harboe Nielsen)

landscape: BIG Landscape (Carmen Simone, Giulia Frittoli, Kay Sasiprapakul, Ulla Hornsyld)

project team: Air Walanchanurak, Aishe Kokoshi, Andra Tai, Andrew McClements, Ania Agnieszka Podlaszewska, Anna Pazurek, Beatrice Melli, Camille Breuil, Carl Pettersson, Carmen Salas Ruiz, Chris Falla, Claire Thomas Spiller, Daniel Ferrara Bilesky, Elisabetta Costa, Evan Cheng, Filip Radu, Florencia Kratsman, Francesca Portesine, Gianmarco Cannizzo, Giulio Rigoni, Gualtiero Rulli, Hannah Kopeliovitch Simons, Ioannis Gio, Jakob Freek Engstrom, Jason Chee Han Chia, Kamila Abbiazova, Laura Faloughi, Lauren Connell Falla, Liliana Prevedello, Luca Vincenzo Puzzoni, Maayan Raviv, Marco Antonio Maycotte, Maria de Salvador Arnaiz, Marjan Mostavi, Matilde Tavanti, Michela Cardia, Miles Casalotti-Lochore, Ming Cheong, Nefeli Stamatari, Parinaz Kadkhodayi-Kholghi, Pernille Kinch Andersen, Pierre-Edouard Joseph Joiris de Caussin, Ryohei Koike, Sabina Blasiotti, Sijia Zhong, Sigi Emily Chen, Solveig Lola Audrey Jappy, Vincent Katienin Konate, William Campion, Youngjin Jun, Yueying Wan, Zuzanna Hanna Sliwinska