The objective pursued from the initial design phases was to focus on environmental conditions that would guarantee functional and quality living spaces, maximising the contribution of the natural resources present in the context. The proposed strategies also aim to strengthen the relationship between the external and internal environment and contribute to ensuring a high level of comfort for all types of users.

The climate analysis and the study of the context have provided preliminary indications to outline environmental strategies since the development of the concept. In fact, the project aims to achieve a high standard of quality, minimise the impact on the environment and limit the use of active systems, through the definition of a series of passive strategies such as wind permeability, natural lighting, rainwater harvesting and the production of energy from renewable sources on site.

In summer, transparent surfaces are well screened to reduce the penetration of direct sunlight, thus minimising the use of active cooling systems in favour of natural room ventilation. During the winter, solar inputs are maximised to ensure adequate levels of lighting and reduce heating from systems. To achieve the highest possible efficiency, a high-performance envelope has been designed to limit heat loss. In addition, part of the energy needed to power the active systems is directly produced on site through the installation of a photovoltaic system on the roof.

The project achieves an energy class A3 for the residences, with an annual energy consumption of between 0.40 and 0.60 kWh/m2.

The locations of the entrances, and the way in which the residential block is positioned, are strongly influenced by the configuration of the ground floor as a commercial space.

The main entrance hall on the south side is given emphasis by its double-height architectural volume directly overlooking the plaza. Residents and office workers share this entrance; the lifts and stairs, passing through this iconic space, lead up to the first floor where the circulation routes separate. At this point the common hall, which contains the atrium to the north and the three distribution cores serving the apartments, distributes the office users towards their workplaces and the residents towards the private parts of the building. Roof terraces on top of the two lowest floors have made it possible to create spacious roof gardens where both the residents and the office workers can spend time outdoors.

At levels +8 and +9, where the verticality of the building is interrupted, are covered terraces. In almost every case, except for a shared portion for condominium use, these are for private use and are reserved for the larger apartments at the floors below. The gradual widening of the volume as the building rises also makes it possible to give each floor a different layout, and allows for variety in the sizes and types of the apartments, which can become larger at the upper floors.

The planting is an integral part of the building and contributes to the definition of its architecture; it is the planted balconies that give quality to the project and the apartments themselves. In continuity with the cladding of the façades, the large planting containers are integrated with openings at the edges of the building and support the ‘railings’ of the balconies; on the one hand these provide a ‘domestic’ element, and on the other they allow for a wide view of the surroundings. The conical/circular shape of the balconies gives them a cosy, introspective atmosphere whilst the panels on the parapets, which are more closely spaced to the sides and more widely spaced at the centre, serve to mitigate the introspectiveness and give unobstructed views of the panorama.