Monterosa 91

This historic industrial site, originally built in the 1950s, has been occupied by Siemens-Italtel and owned by Isotta-Fraschini and after a a first renovation project delivered 20 years ago, it became the headquarters of the Sole 24 Ore newspaper. Now the Renzo Piano Building Workshop studio has returned to the area to create a structure that is divided into four different buildings and a hill covering approximately 10,000 square metres with functional spaces and green areas (the Park of Light) accessible to everyone. 

iGuzzini contributed to the lighting system for the original renovation with standard products like the Lingotto, but above all by developing a special linear indirect light luminaire called i24. So, we returned, too, to help lower energy consumption with new LED lamps and luminaires. We also further improved savings by installing control systems. All the luminaires are DALI-enhanced and can therefore be integrated into any control system. 

Transforming the complex in Via Monte Rosa 91, Milan this second time has been achieved thanks to AXA Investment Managers and a redevelopment project designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. This includes offices, shops, bars and culture, leisure and wellness spaces with the key goal of enhancing public space. 

The building's openness to the life of the city is evidenced by the decision to return transparency to the windows, replace the curtains and change their colour, and especially by the creation of an entrance with multiple doors and a lobby desk to distribute visitor flows.  Part of the ground floor is covered by two public lounge areas. A central staircase and two new lifts lead to the garden level, which houses public meeting rooms and two more lounge areas for informal meetings or coworking activities, as well as providing access to the event areas. The new square, which is livelier and more user-friendly for workers and visitors, is accessed from the garden level. The building’s full-height main reception area is lit partially by Le Perroquet luminaires that are both track-mounted and pendant. The latter create a visual interplay with the yellow of Susumu Shingu's sculpture, a work that has been joined since May 2024 by installations by Mario Airò, Stefano Arienti and Loris Cecchini.  

The building’s interiors have also been refurbished. All the false ceilings have been changed and consequently the luminaires that were installed in them. 

This involved developing a new and simplified linear LED module inspired by the IN90 that has been used widely on the ceilings of the work areas on the different floors. We supplied over 4000 of this minimalist luminaire that features a specifically designed bracket to enable it to “float” between the metal panels that form the false ceiling. Available in two different lengths, the luminaire has UGR < 19 optics and a colour temperature of 4000 K. It provides general room lighting as well as creating an attractive light play on the ceilings that can be enjoyed from outside too. We also installed recessed Easy luminaires with aluminium reflectors and general optics in the lateral transit areas. The same luminaire with controlled luminance optics has been used in the meeting rooms. The colour temperature is 3000K. 

One particularly complex element of the project was how to retain the original Lingotto and i24 luminaires.  

The Lingotto luminaires, that used halogen lamps, were installed in all the stairwells. A relamping kit with new LED lamps was therefore specially developed which maintains the external structure, so the luminaires did not have to be completely replaced.  
The i24 luminaire that was originally developed especially for this project according to Renzo Piano's design was also left along the glazed perimeters. A 'relamping kit' was designed for that, too, with LEDs, consisting of one or two 39 W lamps with a colour temperature of 4000K. 

Calculating the total number of luminaires replaced, we succeeded in lowering consumption significantly from 65 KWh to 30.3 KWh. These daily energy reductions combine with the savings made by not having to replace and dispose of the original luminaires. In terms of sustainability, the idea of conserving and adapting luminaires that are substantially still valid rather than simply replacing everything is very interesting.  
 
Our luminaires have also been used for the exteriors. In fact, the green heart of the complex is a project that creates a new hill consisting of a three-storey body with a terraced section and a garden that becomes a forest in the city, according to the RPBW studio's description.  In this space, in the evening, visitors will be greeted with special lighting effects created by our Twilight, iWay, Palco InOut, Agora, and Underscore in Out luminaires.