LNTPA Urban Tour in Milan and Rome. From Italy’s urban experiences and sensitive heritage to smart neighborhoods of the future
At the end of March, the Lithuanian Real Estate Development Association (LNTPA) community visited two of Italy’s most architecturally dynamic cities—Milan and Rome—during its traditional urban tour. Over the four days of the visit, the delegation toured more than a dozen significant sites: from completed residential complexes and renovated historic palaces to distinctive commercial buildings and construction sites still under development.
The central theme of the study tour was urban regeneration: how cities are revitalizing forgotten or abandoned spaces, and how government, smart architecture, sustainability concepts, and the desire to create open spaces for the community contribute to these changes.
The initiator, host, and one of the main organizers of this tour is Scandurra Studio, a firm founded in Milan in 2001 by architect Alessandro Scandurra, which has been an official member of the LNTPA for the past two years. With a team of more than 60 international professionals, the studio combines architecture and urban planning and is currently actively expanding its operations in the Baltic countries. The studio’s philosophy is based on the restoration of local memory and architecture that is historically conscious and future-oriented.
Tour Blog
MILAN
“Scandurra Studio” – Presentation of the Architectural Firm
The tour began with a presentation at the office of “Scandurra Studio,” a member of the LNTPA—a particularly symbolic start, as the projects initiated and implemented by this studio formed the foundation of the entire program. The practice led by Alessandro Scandurra encompasses land-use planning, urban and architectural design, and collaboration with major investors such as Hines, Coima, and Generali.
As the host of the tour, Scandurra Studio shared its insights, experience, and methodological approach throughout the tour: every project begins with a deep immersion in local history, and architecture is treated as the creation of meaning and the ability to listen to the place’s past.
Interesting fact: As of 2024, the studio has officially expanded its operations to the Baltic countries, and their membership in the LNTPA community, along with this organized trip, further strengthens ties with the Lithuanian real estate market and developers.
“Oasi Isola” – Residential Construction Site
Residential project under development | Arch. “Scandurra Studio” “Oasi Isola,” located on Via Alserio and Via Ugo Bassi in Milan’s creative Isola district, is a mixed-use conversion project. The total floor area of the building is approximately 15,000 square meters, with 52 units of various types planned: apartments, urban villas with private gardens, and commercial spaces on the ground floor.
In 1940, the Oasi Isola site was planned and transformed into an industrial complex. It later lost its original function and was gradually abandoned, becoming a closed-off and lifeless part of the city.
Scandurra Studio’s solution was to remove the structures in the inner courtyard, transforming it into a green, permeable communal space, with paths connecting the main residential volumes without compromising the quality of the garden. The entire composition is designed to be open and accessible, rather than closed off and fenced in. This project is an excellent example of how commercial and industrial areas can be responsibly converted into residential spaces open to the public.
The Feltrinelli Foundation – Herzog & de Meuron
A cultural and office complex
Located just a few steps from Oasi Isola, the Porta Volta complex, designed by Herzog & de Meuron, is one of the most talked-about buildings in contemporary Italian architecture. Opened in late 2016, it was the Swiss firm’s first project in Italy and immediately became a model for how cultural institutions and businesses can coexist within a single architectural space.
The complex consists of two adjacent buildings, whose design fits into a rather narrow, approximately 200-meter-long volume featuring a distinctive, repetitive pitched-roof structure with fully glazed facades. The project was built on the site of a former arboretum, transforming a neglected corner of the city into a vibrant urban space for both residents and visitors. The complex is surrounded by an 11,000-square-meter public park—a rare green oasis in the heart of Milan.
Incidentally, one building houses the Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Foundation, while the other is home to the Microsoft Italy headquarters (Microsoft House).
“Porta Nuova” and “Bosco Verticale”
A residential and office district
Few urban renewal projects in Italy can match the scale and ambition of “Porta Nuova.” An area of more than 300,000 square meters in the heart of Milan has united three previously separate districts into a single cohesive whole. The former abandoned post-industrial site has been transformed into one of the most modern districts in Italy, having received LEED Neighborhood Development certification.
The most striking and one of the best-known structures here is the “Bosco Verticale,” designed by “Stefano Boeri Architetti.” It is a complex of two residential skyscrapers located in Milan’s Porta Nuova district. Both towers were opened in 2014, standing 116 m and 84 m tall, respectively.
The project features 900 trees (3, 6, or 9 meters tall), 5,000 shrubs, and 15,000 other plants, arranged on the facade according to their light requirements. In terms of the number of trees, this would correspond to a forest area of 20,000 square meters on flat land.
The building’s greenery belongs to everyone and cannot be altered, removed, or replaced by individual apartment tenants. Residents are not responsible for plant maintenance. This work is carried out by the City of Milan’s gardeners. “Flying gardeners”—arborists and climbers who descend on ropes from towers—are used for maintenance.
Each apartment is generously landscaped: each apartment has at least 2 trees, 8 shrubs, and 40 plants per resident, providing a close connection to nature and the associated physical and psychological benefits.
In 2015, the “Bosco Verticale” project was named the best high-rise building in the world (CTBUH). Plants. Incidentally, since subway lines run beneath the buildings, a special vibration isolation system has been installed.
“CityLife” and “CityWave” (BIG)
Urban Redevelopment Project
CityLife, one of the largest urban projects in Europe, has been built on the site of the former Fiera Milano exhibition grounds. A 366,000-square-meter area has been transformed into a mixed-use district featuring parks, residential neighborhoods, a retail zone, and three skyscrapers designed by world-class architects—Studio Libeskind, Zaha Hadid Architects, and Arata Isozaki & Associates. The project was implemented by the Generali Group. The investment amounts to approximately 523 million euros.
Three skyscrapers:
Isozaki Tower – 202 m, the tallest in Italy
Libeskind Tower – 150 m, curved facade
Zaha Hadid Tower – 170 m, rotating glass bridge
“CityLife is the largest car-free zone in Milan and one of the largest in Europe.”
The final part of the project is “CityWave,” designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). It consists of two office buildings connected by a 140-meter-long cantilevered roof that forms a public pedestrian space. Incidentally, the roof is covered with solar panels, making it one of the largest such systems in the world.
“CityWave” offers 4,500 square meters of open spaces: inner courtyards, stepped loggias, and a natural ventilation system. The project holds the highest sustainability certifications (LEED, WELL, WiredScore). Passive cooling, thermal energy storage, and groundwater systems reduce energy consumption by up to 40% compared to buildings of a similar scale.
“Cascina Merlata” (UpTown) – Italy’s First Smart Neighborhood
Residential neighborhood | A project by Scandurra Studio
“UpTown” is Italy’s first smart neighborhood, being developed on a 900,000-square-meter site. It is designed as a “city within a city,” integrating living, working, services, and green spaces.
The project features advanced technologies, communal spaces, and a 250,000-square-meter park, which was completed even before residents moved in.
“Palazzo Spiga 26” – Kering Group Headquarters
Office and commercial building | Arch.: Scandurra Studio
Located on Milan’s prestigious fashion street, Via della Spiga, this 18th-century building has been transformed into a luxurious 13,000-square-meter complex. The architectural team from Scandurra Studio preserved the building’s historic character while adding bold contemporary elements: a glass-enclosed top floor and a custom-designed ceramic facade. It now houses the headquarters of the Kering Group (which owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, and others).
The “Spiga 26” project was implemented by Hines, one of the world’s leading real estate developers, which acquired the building back in 2019. The total investment in the project amounts to 250 million euros.
ROME
“Città del Sole” – Conversion of a Former Bus Depot
Mixed-Use Project
Through this project, a derelict transportation infrastructure site was converted into an open, multifunctional urban complex featuring public spaces. The complex combines commercial spaces, a library, offices, and residential apartments. Ancient artifacts discovered during excavations were integrated into the project as a public archaeological garden.
The project was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award.
“The Social Hub Rome”
Student housing and co-working spaces
A former railway site has been transformed into a modern urban campus that connects living, working, and community life, now known as co-living model housing.
The project’s investment amounts to approximately 114 million euros. A 10,000-square-meter park has been created.
“Palazzo Raggi” – Luxury Residences in a Historic Building
Residential Project | “Scandurra Studio”
This is a conversion of a 17th-century palace in Rome, restoring the building to its original residential function and revitalizing the historic city center.
The renovation was approached with great sensitivity: authentic elements such as frescoes, coffered ceilings, historic doors, and the monumental staircase were preserved.
At the same time, integrated contemporary solutions allow the building to function in accordance with modern standards of comfort, engineering, and privacy.
The complex consists of a limited number of high-end apartments arranged around an inner courtyard, reflecting the classic Roman urban structure.
From a real estate perspective, this is a “prime” segment project, where value is created not only by the architecture but also by the exceptionally attractive location in the heart of Rome.
This project clearly demonstrates that heritage sites can be not only preserved but also economically viable, adapting to modern urban life.
“Via Veneto 89” – Deloitte Headquarters
Renovation of a Historic Building
The project stands out as an example of a sensitive transformation of historic architecture, in which a neoclassical building is adapted to modern business needs without losing its identity.
During the renovation, LNTPA member “Scandurra Studio Architettura,” which developed the project, fundamentally reorganized the interior spaces to make the building more open and permeable: a central courtyard was created, along with a transparent lobby featuring a skylight, establishing a constant connection between the historic architecture and contemporary urban life. The renovated complex spans 16,000 square meters and is home to more than 2,600 Deloitte employees who previously worked in various offices across Rome. Amazon has also chosen this project as its headquarters in Rome, making it one of the few properties in Europe to house two global business giants under one roof. The triple LEED, BREEAM, and WELL certification of this historic building underscores that sustainability is no longer a choice but a standard, even in complex heritage areas.
“The Cloud” – “Studio Fuksas”
Conference Center
“The Cloud” is one of the most impressive contemporary architectural projects in Rome, distinguished by its innovative form and scale.
Officially, it is a conference center and hotel complex in Rome’s EUR district, with a total investment of 239 million euros. The earthquake-resistant design was created by architects Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas. “The Cloud” was completed in October 2016 after a process that lasted 18 years.
It is the largest structure built in Rome in over half a century, located in the southern part of the EUR business district on the site of a former abandoned parking lot.
The architectural concept consists of three distinct elements: the glass-and-steel “Theca,” an enveloping structure; the free-form “Cloud” suspended within it; and the black, slender hotel tower “Blade.”
The building’s concept interprets the contrast between two Roman architectural traditions—the rationalist geometry of the EUR and the Baroque, organic form.
The complex covers an area of 55,000 square meters, with a total of approximately 8,000 seats, including an auditorium and underground conference spaces.
The project incorporates energy generation and water harvesting systems, but despite its architectural ambition, it continues to spark debate regarding cost, implementation timeline, and actual economic viability.
Mindaugas Statulevčius, Director of LNTPA:
“The visit to Italy once again clearly demonstrated how important internationalization and the ability to see ourselves in a broader context are for our sector. By comparing practices in Italy and Lithuania, we were able to assess our strengths and weaknesses more objectively. Such trips allow us not only to gather ideas but also to verify the direction in which our market is moving. Particularly valuable was the direct dialogue with local developers, architects, and investors, who shared real-life examples of conversions. This provides a very practical understanding of how old buildings can be successfully adapted for a new life.
It is clear that in Italy, the view that projects must be open to the public and create social value is growing stronger. Even when converting historic or industrial sites, priority is given to vitality, accessibility, and community. I believe we still have room to grow in this area in Lithuania, so that projects are not purely commercial but create broader benefits for the city. This is particularly relevant today, as the market matures and new construction alone is no longer sufficient.
We have a lot of underutilized property that could be transformed into high-quality, vibrant spaces. Furthermore, limited land availability in cities encourages the search for more sustainable solutions through conversion. Such projects help to use infrastructure more efficiently, reduce urban sprawl, and strengthen city centers. Italy’s experience shows that it is precisely these transformations that can create a high-quality environment for people. Equally important is the fact that Italians are able to blend cultural heritage with contemporary architecture, and this relationship is encouraged rather than restricted. It is precisely this approach that we would like to see more of in Lithuania. “
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)