Palazzo Mantegazza

The winner of a competition launched by Sergio and Geo Mantegazza, in which some of the most prestigious international architecture studios took part, this building is characterized by a unique and ingenious design where refinement, technology, coherence, transparency and light merge in an expression of luxurious and refined modernity. It is a meeting place and entertainment hub where commercial and cultural activities are combined with a top level residential offer. An analysis of the site reveals two further aspects that had a very important affect on the design: its ideal location on Lake Lugano and the presence of a very busy road leading to the motorway. On the basis of these factors and of the competition specifications that demanded an 11-storey corner building with a maximum height of 35.50 meters, a design was created whose architectural, aesthetic and functional features could best grace an important urban area.

The project included a highly technological façade of glass and new metals, whose lightness harmonizes with the imposing volume of the building. Moreover, through the choice of materials, the play of transparencies, reflections and crossreferences, it fits perfectly into the setting of the lake and its surroundings. The parts of the façade that are not glass have a skin of stainless steel sheets, whose surface is worked to create a dialogue with the rest of the building. These steel sheets constantly vary in colour according to the changing light of the seasons and hours of the day. The architecture of the façades reflects two completely different situations.

The architecture of the facades expresses two very different contextual situations. The lake-facing facade has a distinct residential character, where the presence of glass “sails” rhythmically spans the length of the building. These projecting volumes contain spacious terraces, almost like a jardin d’hiver, enjoyable throughout the year, serving as a connection between the living spaces and the water mirror in front. On the street-facing side with significant vehicular traffic, it communicates a different architectural language, indicating a change in purpose. Administrative offices and commercial activities occupy the entire wing of the building, taking advantage of high visibility. Noteworthy is the movement of a portion of the facade, defined and enhanced by an element that outlines its design. The theme of the roof, as the fifth facade, is developed with real rooftop gardens, planted and enriched with green surfaces and wooden decked areas, almost like a canopy reminiscent of a ship’s deck.

The project proposed, on the ground floor, in addition to the commercial spaces, two main entrances to the building: one for commercial use and a second one intended for residents. The commercial entrance, which spans four levels, serves as an almost ‘public courtyard,’ a desire expressed by the client through the competition brief, and it becomes a generous and distinctive element of the building.