D&G Headquarters, image courtesy of Piuarch

Milan-based architectural studio Piuarch has designed the New D&G Headquarters located in Milan, Italy.

The facades of the building housing the showrooms are entirely glazed and feature a series of vertical, closely spaced louvers of opal glass. This membrane, made of glass, acts as a filter, softly diffusing the daylight through the building and serving at the same time as a sunshade.

Piuarch

+ Project description courtesy of Piuarch

D&G Headquarters, sketch courtesy of Piuarch

The new headquarters of D&G in Milan house the showrooms for the fashion collections, the offices, a restaurant and a number of spaces for events, with a total surface of 5.000 square meters. The project reflects a rigorous architectural scheme, using natural materials such as white namibic stone, glass and crude steel sheets. Two bodies, of the 1920’s and the 1960’s respectively, face three streets, covering 5 floors and 2 basements. The first floor overlooks a garden of white cobblestone.

D&G Headquarters, image courtesy of Piuarch

The facades of the building housing the showrooms are entirely glazed and feature a series of vertical, closely spaced louvers of opal glass. This membrane, made of glass, acts as a filter, softly diffusing the daylight through the building and serving at the same time as a sunshade. In the evening, the building from outside resembles an enormous lamp of diffused light. On the upper floor, the articulation of volumes allows the restaurant to enjoy the outlook on a series of terraces.

One of the project’s key factors is the combination of classical and contemporary elements. The early 900’s building, housing the offices, is juxtaposed to the new building made of glass.

D&G Headquarters, image courtesy of Piuarch

A new volume has been added as a link between the two buildings, facing the internal courtyard and featuring stairs and ramps of crude sheet metal.

D&G Headquarters, image courtesy of Piuarch

The showrooms form open spaces, bound by a central block with the restrooms on one side and by the glazed façade on the other.

The furnishing elements are made of polished steel and crude sheet metal, while plasma screens are placed in unexpected corners.

The linearity of forms and the uniformity of materials can be found in both architectural and furnishing elements. The white namibic stone, the opal and transparent glass, together with crude and bright steel, seek for an architectural synthesis that can reflect the identity of D&G.

D&G Headquarters, floor plan courtesy of Piuarch

D&G Headquarters, section courtesy of Piuarch

+ Project credits / data

Project: D & G Headquarters
Location: Milan, Italy
Client: Dolce & Gabbana S.p.a
Architectural & Interior Design: Piuarch -  Francesco Fresa, Germàn Fuenmayor, Gino Garbellini, Monica Tricario with Miguel Pallarés, Luca Lazzerotti, Fortuna Parente, Magali Roig Liverato
Reception’s furniture Design: Ron Arad Associates
Structural Design: FV Progetti S.n.c.
M&E Design: Gtec S.a.s.
Photos: Ruy Teixeira

+ All images and drawings courtesy of Piuarch