Politecnico di Milano

Via Torino is one of the most important commercial streets in Milan. It is, at the same time, a tourist attraction, due to its historical value and proximity to Milan’s Duomo, one of the most important cathedrals in the country.

The Hostel is located parallelly to Via Torino, with a public area instead of a courtyard. The building seeks to rebuild the border of the lot, re-interpreting the court typology that is very characteristic of Milan, by leaving a continuous free area in order to allow access from one side of the lot to the other.

This re-interpretation resulted in two buildings that intersect on one of their sides, creating an “L” shape that hugs the lot on its front. The longest and tallest building contains all the rooms of the hostel from the first floor to the fourth, while the shortest building is where the multi-purpose area and the green roof are held. The ground floor connects the two buildings, whole serving as an administrative/commerce area, including a restaurant, café, shops and offices.

A public square was also created to be integrated with the design of the building. With two accesses, one on each street that confines it, and a free path that connects them, guided by the landscape. It also serves as an open area where the restaurant can hold its commensals.